







■0> «^ 












'o ^ ^ 










^vO'i' • 




-v^^ 











^^.^"-^f^^^.^^^- ^^^^ 




33 <» 



. HISTORY 



TJMm ih^^m w^iB< 



BETWEEN THE 



UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN. 



COXTAINIIfG 



.i .^UJ^'UTE ACCOUjYT OF 



THE VARIOUS 



militarp ant» 40a^al <0perationig. 



ILLUSTEATED WITH PLATES. 



BY H, M. BRJICKEjYRIDGE, ESQ 



Third Edition, 

aEVISED AND CORBECTED. 



BALTIMORE : 
PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY CUSHIXG & JEWETT^ 

.. NO. 6, N. HOWARD-STREET, 

X Robinsoiiy Printer. 
1817, 






District o? MAiiTLA»ri>, ss 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on tliis Twentieth day of January^ 
«4eHcM=M*)( '"^ *-''® Forty-first year of the Independence of the United 
% % States of America, Joseph Cusliing, of the said District, hath 

I SEAL. I jieposited inthis office the title of a Book, the right whereof 
********** he claims as Pix)prietor ; in the words following, to w it — 
" History of the Late War, between the United States and Great Bri- 
tain. — Containing a minute account of the -various Military and Naval 
Operations.- — Illustrated with Plates — By H. M. Brackenridge, Esq." 

In conformity to the act of the Congi'ess of the United States, entitled, 
** An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of 
maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies dur- 
ing the times thei"ein mentioned." And also to the act, entitled, " An act 
supplementfliy to an act, entitled, *' An act for the encoui'agement of 
learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the audiors 
Jknd proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and 
extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and 
■etching historical and other prints." 

PHILIP MOORE, 
'Clerk of tlie District of Marjland. 

In eicliaage 
MAR2 9ni3 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Oeclaratlon of War. .General Hull reaches Djtroit. .Crosses inta 
Canada. .Skirmishes on the river Atix Canards. .Battle of 
Brownstown. .Taking- of Michillimackinack. -Taking of Chi- 
cago.. Battle of Magagua. .The surrender of Hull. Page 25 

CHAPTER 11. 

Naval events. .Cruise of Commodore Rodgers..The President 
chases the Belvidera. .The Constitution Captures the Guer- 
riere. .Captain Porter captures the Alert. .Cruise of the Presi- 
dent.. United States captures the •Macedonian -.The Wasp 
captures the Frolick. .Privateers. .Sensations excited in En- 
gland. ** Page 44 

CHAPTER ifl. 

Gen. Harrison takes command of the Xorth western army. .Ex- 
pedition under general Winchester. .Gen. Hopkins .. Defence 
of Fort Harrison. .Col. Campbell's Expedition. Page 5!7 

CHAPTER IV. 

Troops on the Canada frontier .-Capture of the Caledonia. .Bat- 
tle of Queenstown, and death of general Brock.. Bombard- 
ment of Niagara. .Abortive attempt of general Smyth. .Nor- 
thern Army . .First cruise of commodore Chauncey. Page 71 

CHAPTER V. 

Meeting of Congress— Proposal for an Armistice — Reverses of 
Napoleon — Measures for carrying on the War — Blockade of our 
coast — The Southern Indians — Tecumseh's visit to the Creeks. 
— War \\\\\\ the Seminoles — Third naval victory over .a Bri- 
tish Frigate — Disasters of our Arms to the West. Page &6 

CHAPTER VI. 

Harrison returns to Ohio. »General Winchester sends a detach- 
ment to protect Frenchtown. .Colonel Lewis defeats the Bri- 
tish and Indians. .Winchester arrives with reinforcements. . 



iv CONTENTS. 

Battle of the river Raisin .Shocking- conduct of the Britisli 
and their allies Harrison's return .Siege of Fort Meigs.. 
Defeat of Dudley.. The siege raised. .Exploit of Major 
Ball. Page 98 

CHAPTER VII. 

British preparations in Canada — Incursion of Forsythe — Attack 
on Ogdcnsburgh The taking of York, and death of Pike.. 
Taking of Fort George — Battle of Stoney Creek, and capture 
of generals Chandler and Winder General Brown defends 
Sackett's Harbour — Resignation of general Dearborne — The 
town of Sodus attacked — Battle of the Beaver Dams — Second 
tak)ngofY;(rk— British devastate the borders of Lake Cham- 
plain — Cruise of commodore Chauncey. Pa^ 118 

CHAPTER VIII. 

War on the coast- •••Paiper Blockades.. Exploits of Cockburn.. 
Plundering-andburning of Havre de Grace Burning of George- 
town and FrederickHwn. .Arrival of Admiral Warren and Sir 
Sidney Beckwith . , Southern cities threatened . Attack on Crany 
Island. .Enormities at Hampton. Cockburn plunders the coast 
of North Carolina. .Blockade of the American squadron at 
New London, by Commodore Hardy* ^The Torpedo Sys- 
tem. Page 148 

CHAPTER IX, 

Naval a^airs — The Hornet captures the Peacock — The Shannon 
captures the Chesapeake — The Pelican captures the Argus •• 
The Enterpnze captures the Boxer — Cruize of commodore 
Porter in the South Seas — Cruize of commodore Rodgers.. 
Of captain Stewart—The Privateer General Armstrong — The 
l)ecatur captiu'es the Dominica. Page 165 

CHAPTER X. 

Affairs of the West. .Patriotick conduct of Ohio and Kentucky. • 
Defence of Sandusky. .Generosity of the Americans — Naval 
preparations on Lake Erie. .Commodore Perry sails with his 
Fleet.. Capture of the enemy's Squadron — Battle of the 
Thames, and death of Tecumseh — Correspondence between 
General Harrison and General Vincent? Page J7S 



CONIENTS. V 

CHAPTER XL 

Preparations for Invaclln,^ Canada— General Wilkinson takes com- 
mand — Rendezvous of the American forces — General Wilkin- 
son descends the St. Lawrence — Battle of Chrystler's field-~ 
Hampton's inability to co-operate — Failure of the expedition- 
Cruize of Commodore Chauncey — The burning of Newark — 
British retaliation. Tag-e 194, 

CHAPTER XH. 

erecting of Congress, and violence of party spirit— treasures 
for carrying on the war — Unfriendly deportment of the New 
England states — The subject of retaliation— A committee of 
congress inquires into the manner in wh'ch the war has been 
carried on by the enemy — The war gaining ground in the 
United States. Page 212 

CHAPTER XHI. 

The Soutlfern war— Massacre of fort Mims— Expedition of 
.general Jackson, and general Cocke— Battle of Talledega — 
Indians surprised by general Cocke — Expedition of general 
Floyd — Critical situation of general Jackson— Defeat of the 
Indians — The Creeks totally defeated at the Horse-shoe-bend 
..General Jackson terminates the Creek war, and dictates a 
a peace. f age 223 

CHAPTER XIV. 

General Wilkinson retires to Plattsburg— Gen. Brown marches 
to the Niagara frontier— Affair of La CoUe — Exertions of 
commodore M'Donough to create a naval force — Contest for 
superiority on Lake Ontario — Attack of Oswego — Death of 
colonel Forsythe — Colonel Campbell's expedition— Gallant 
defence of captain Holmes— Serious crisis in the state of our 
affairs — Commodore Hardy invades the northern sea-coast.. 
Takes possession of Eastport and Castine. .Gallant defence of 
Stonington,. The John Adams destroyed. Page 2J3 

CHAPTER XV. 

Naval incidents —the Plantagenet 74,. declines a contest v/Ith 
commodore Rodgers — Captain Stewart chases a British fri- 
gate of equal force — Cruize of commodore Porter Typee 
war — The Essex captured bv the Phosbe and Cherub — 'I'he 
1# 



Vi CONTENTS. 

Peacock captures the Epervier— The Wasp captures the Rein- 
deer — The Wasp sinks the Avon— Loss of the Wasp* -Frigate 
President captured by a squadron — Constitution engages and 
captures two British sloops, the Cayenne and Levant The 
Hornet captures the Penguin. Page 251 

CHAPTEll XVI. 

Movements of the army on the Niagara frontier- Capture of 
Fort Erie^Battle of Chippewa— Death of general Swift— Bat- 
tie of Niagara — Siege of Fort Erie— Assault upon Fort Erie — 
Sortie upon the British works — Affair's of the West — Expedi- 
tion against Michilimackinack. Page 269 

CHAPTER XVIL 

War on the sea-eoast— Engagements between the enemy and 
Barney's flotilla in the Chesapeake— Plunderings of the Bri- 
tish — Washington and Baltimore threatened — General Winder 
appointed to command the 10th district— Serious apprehen- 
sions, from the British — Difficulties in collecting an efficient 
force for defence — Capture of Washington — The plunder of 
Alexandria. Page 298 

CHAPTER xvnr. 

Sensations produced by the capture of Washington, in Europe 
and in England* .Effect of this event in the United Statest* 
Glorious defence of Baltimore* .The retreat of the British* • 
Capture of the British squadron on Lake Champlain** Repulse 
of Sir George Prevost..The British fleet leaves the Chesa- 
peake, and a part sails to the south. Page 320 

CHAPTER XTX. 

Vnan'mity of sentiment in Congress. British sine qua non. . 
Affairs of the Southward. Creek hostilities. Invasion of Lou- 
•isiana. .Affairs of the gun-boats. .British forces landed in 
liOuisiana.. Battle of the 23d of December. .Battle of the 8th 
©f January. .The British compelled to retreat. .Bombardment 
ef Fort St. Philip. .Pcaee with Great Britain. Page 340 



INTRODUCTION, 



One amongst the numerous artifices, which the selfish- 
ness of European nations has put in practice, the better 
to retain the American colonies in a slavish suhjection^ 
or what amounts to the same thing, in a state of perpe- 
tual non-age, has" been to claim over them a maternal aU" 
thority or prerogative. If this fiction imposed upon 
them, the obligation of treating the colonies with tender- 
ness and affe,ction, the colonies might regard it as inno» 
cent, if not salutary ; but it is used to cover the cruel 
iniquity of fastening on their necks the yoke of conquest. 
The self-styled mother, without a spark of that affection 
which exists, as a law of nature, in the breast of every 
creature, would inculcate, that, on our part, to refuse 
the most implicit and slavish obedience, to whatever dis- 
positions she may choose to make of our persons or 
estates, to her sole and exclusive benefit, is no less than 
filial impiety. That the opposition of the colonies to the 
most glaring abuse of power, was in them the conduct of 
wicked and unnatural children ; that remonstrance was 
insolence, and resistance atrocity. From no better 
source than this idle fiction, proceed the invectives la- 
vished on the colonies, for manfully resenting the indig- 
nities that have been offered them. 

It is time that this shallow artifice should be exposed. 
It has encouragetl the nations of Europe to make their 
unwarranted demands upon us, and it has too often with- 
held our arm from opposing them, in the manner that we 
ought. As a poetick fiction, it might serve to amuse the 
fancy. It was first invented by the colonist himself, to 
express his affection for the soil of his nativity, or the 
birth place of his ancestors ; for u ho is there that ceases 
to love the spot from which he is an exile ? He little 
tliought that he was contriving a fiction, which would 
enable the inhabitants of that paternal soil, his kinsmen, 
to claim the privileges of masters ; they could feel no affec- 



viii INTRODUCTION. 

tion for the exile, or the land which received him. So 
strongly has this fiction fastened itself upon all our 
thoughts, that it has become necessary to make an effort 
to shake it oflf, and return to simple truth. Are the pre- 
sent inhabitants of the British isles, the fathers, or mo- 
thers of the Americans ? Are they brothers, or cousins, 
or tenth cousins ? No ; We sprang from the same stock, 
have a common ancestry, and that is all. We have as 
mucii rii:;ht to claim a parental prerogative over English- 
men, as they have to claim it over us. 

These states, once British colonies, were for the most 
part, established by persons who fled from persecution, 
and at the private expense of the colonists. They were 
sutfered to struggle with the difficulties incident to their 
new situation, and after they had thus grown up in ne- 
glect, and become possessed of what might tempt the cu- 
pidity of the European mother, she assumed the arbitra- 
ry power of "binding them in all cases whatsoever," in 
other words, she declared them in a state of vassallage. 

In leaving the land of our forefathers, already crowded 
v/ith population, our condition was improved, at the 
same time that a correspondent benefit accrued to the 
mother country, in the creation of new marts for her 
trade. We carried with us the language, the laws, the 
literature, the " free born thoughts," of our ancestors, 
to which we were as much entitled as the islanders whom 
we left in possession of the natale solum. We left be- 
hind, indeed, many customs and institutions, not suited 
to our new situation, or which we considered as useless. 
Admitting that the infancy of the colonies was protected 
by the European state ; does this create a debt of grati- 
tude never to be repaid ? Does it authorise the treating 
of the colonies as subjugated countries ? The European 
states have been long ago repaid a thousand fold. The 
new world has been continually pouring forth her trea- 
sures, to be lavished in distant wars, to be expended in 
courtly extravagance, or to contribute to the comfort of 
myriads across the Atlantick. The colonies were foster- 
en fiom interest, never from affection. The conduct of 
tiie European state, far from being that of a mother, has 



INTRODUCTION. is 

been that of a wicked guardian, whose only wish is to 
lengthen the pupilage of his ward, that he may riot in his 
estate. Away then with the trash of filial obedience in 
the colonies, unnatural children, unnatural wars, or ma- 
ternal preroo;ative. 

The obstinate persistance of Great Britain in her pre- 
tensions to this prerogative, first broke the ties of depen- 
dence, which it was so much her interest to preserve, and 
her subsequent illiberal policy, has tended to weaken the. 
influence of affinity, which a true wisdom would have 
taught her to cherish. Why is it that the enmity of those j 
between whom there naturally exist the most numerous 
bonds of friendship, is the most bitter? It is because 
each of these is a distinct cord which may vibrate to the 
feelings of hatred, as well as of love. With China, with 
Turkey, with France, we may be governed by temporary 
and varying policy, but towards England we can never 
feel indffference. Why then has England taken so much 
pains, to make us hate her as a nation ? The grievances 
of which we have to complain, by frequent recital, have 
grown wearisome to the ear. There always existed, and 
still exist, numerous ties to attach us to Britain, which 
nothing but her ungenerous and unnatural policy, can 
weaken or destroy. Her wisest and best men foretold 
to her, the consequences of the usurpations which led to 
our independence, and yet she still continued to afflict 
us, with every species of irritating and insulting deport- 
ment, and then at last complained of our unnatural con- 
duct, in refusing to bear it any longer. 

With the acknowledgement of our independence, 
Great Britain did not renounce her designs of subjugating 
America. Force had been found unavailing, she next re- 
solved to try what might be done by fraud. For many 
years after the peace of 1783, our affairs wore no promis- 
ing appearance. The confederation, which bound the 
states during their struggle against a common enemy, 
was too feeble to hold them together in a time of peace. 
The cement of our union being thus taken away, England 
foresaw what we had to encounter, and prophecying ac- 
cording to lier wishes, solaced herself with the hope o( 



X INTRODUCTION, 

seeing us divided and engaged in civil broils. The seeds 
of dissention had been abundantly sown, our state of fi- 
nance was deplorably defective; it might almost be said, 
that the nation was at an end, for so many jarring inter- 
ests discovered themselves in the states, as almost to 
preclude the hope, of reducing these discordant elements 
to harmony and order. A state of anarchy and civil war 
might restore us to Great Britain. Happily for Ameri- 
ca, she possessed at this moment, a galaxy of sages and 
patriots, who held a powerful influence over tlie minds 
of their fellow citizens. By their exertions, a spirit of 
compromise and accommodation was introduced, which 
terminated in our present glorious compact. A second 
revolution, which secured to us the benefits of the first. 

By this event Great Britain lost, for a time, the oppor- 
tunity of tampering with the individual states, of foment- 
ing jealousies, and of governing by division. Her policy 
was changed ; it became a favourite idea, that our growth 
should be repressed, and so many impediments thrown 
in our way, as to convince us, that we had gained nothing 
in becoming free. We soon experienced the effects of 
her disappointment. Contrary to express stipulation, 
she refused to surrender the western posts, am!, at the 
same time, secretly instigated the savages to murder the 
frontier settlers. Spain was, at this very moment, prac- 
tising her intrigues to draw off the western states from 
the confederacy, of which there is little doubt England 
would soon have availed herself. 

But we also came in contact with Britain on the ocean ; 
our commerce began to flourish, and on the breaking out 
of the French war, she found in us formidable rivals. In 
order to put a stop to this competition, she called into 
life the odious, and almost obsolete rule of *j6, wliich is 
in palpable violation of the law of nations. The spirit 
of this rule is to prevent the neutral from enjoying any 
commerce, which would not, at the same time, be open to 
xhe* belligerent; in other words, to permit no neutral. In 
practice it was carried to the full extent. The orders in 
council of the 8th January, 1793, became the source of 
a thousand vexations to American commerce : and vet 



INTRODUCTION. xi 

was ill a manner tolerable, compajAl to those of the sixth 
of November, which were secretly circulated among the 
British cruisers, authorising them to capture, " all ves- 
sels laden with the produce of any of the colonies of 
France, or carrying provisions or supplies to the said co- 
lony." The greater part of our commerce was at once 
swept from the ocean. No diversity of opinion, among 
our merchants, prevailed on this occasion. They ex- 
pressed themselves in the strongest terms, against this 
treacherous and wicked procedure. The war of the re- 
volution had not been forgotten, that with the savages still 
raged ; it was not by such acts, we could be induced to 
entertain a friendly feeling towards England. There 
prevailed a universal clamour for war, among the mer- 
chants particiilarly, and which required all the firmness 
of Washington to withstand. This |reat man had mark- 
ed out to himself the wise policy, of keeping aloof from 
European politicks, and of avoiding all entanglements in 
their wars. Mr. Jay was despatched as a special mes- 
senger, with orders to remonstrate in a manly tone. This 
mission terminated in the celebrated treaty of 1794, and 
which was sanctioned by the nation, although not without 
great reluctance. It appeared in the sequel, that we had 
only shoved aside a war, in order to recommence disputes 
concerning the same causes. 

The British did little more than modify their orders in 
council, by those issued in 1795 and '98. In fact, down 
to the peace of Amiens, the same vexations and abuses 
furnished a constant theme of remonstrance. Neither 
General Washington, nor Mr. Adams, was able to ar- 
range our difterences with England, or induce her to 
consult her own true interests, by a just and liberal poli- 
cy towards us. From this we may fairly infer, that no 
administration of our government, could have succeed- 
e<l in accommodating our dift'erences upon just and equi- 
table principles. 

Another cause of complaint, proceeded jparipasM with 
the violations of our commercial and maritime rights, 
and of a nature still more vexatious. It is one upon 
which American feeling has always been muck alive. 



xii INTRODUCTION. ' 

G. Britain is the only fcodern nation, who does not'consi* 
der the flag as protecting every person who sails under 
it ; and we are the only people who have, during peace, 
been dragged from our ships on the high seas, by chris- 
tian nations, and condemned to servitude. This into- 
lerahle outrage grew up from a small beginning, by im- 
prudent acquiescence on our part ; perhaps not conceiv- 
ing it possible, that it could ever assume its present 
hideous front. At first, it was a claim to search our 
merchant vessels for deserters from the publick service 
of Britain ; next, it became a right to impress English 
seamen, who had engaged themselves in American ships; 
finally, every person who could not prove on the spot, to 
the satisfaction of the lieutenant who came on ooard, 
that he was an American, was carried away into a most 
hateful bondage. England had gone far, in asserting 
the right to search a neutral vessel, for enemy's goods ; a 
right, which can only be regarded as an exception to the 
general rule, that ships of neutrals on the high seas are 
as inviolable as the neutral territory ; a right, which had 
been successively opposed by all the maritime states, 
excepting the one which claimed the sovereignty of the 
seas ; a strong proof that it was but an abuse of power. 
But this claim of searching for men^ is unsupported by 
any writer on the publick law, or by one good reason. 
She had no more right to claim her subjects from our 
ships, than from our territory. Whatever right she 
miglit have, to prevent them from quilting the country, 
ut times when their services were required, or of pun- 
ishing for doing so, she had no right to pursue into our 
country, or demand them from us, unless warranted by 
express treaty. But what she had no right to demand, 
she had a right to take by force ! When closely pressed, 
she deigned at last to give some reasons in support of 
her practice — she must have men to man her thousand 
ships — she was contending for her existence — we had no 
right to employ her seamen— our flag had no regard to 
her interests — our employment of foreign seamen was 
not regulated — our suffeiings were the consequences of 
our own imprudence — These are the only arguments, 



INTRODUCTION. xiii 

that can be used in support of such a 'practice. If Eng- 
land says she must have men, we answer that we must 
have men also. That we also are contending for our 
existence, although we do not think ourselves authorised 
on that account, to rob our neighbours, or make them 
slaves. If she says that we had no right to employ her 
seamen — we can answer, that she had no right to em- 
ploy ours. Why, I would ask, were we under any- 
greater obligations to consult her interest, than s!ie con- 
siders herself to consult ours ? The fact is, that no na- 
tion in the world employs a greater number of foreign 
seamen than Great-Britain, in her immense commerce, 
and in her immense navy ; and she has a right to employ 
them, not because she is contending for her existence, or 
fighting the battles of the world, but because the thing is 
lawful in itself. So far from restricting herself, or rs- 
gidating the practice, or consulting the interests of 
others, she consults only her own interests, and holds 
out inticements to foreign seamen, which no other nation 
does. Here, then, is a simple question ; how comes that 
to be unlawful in America, which is lawful in Britain ? 
Would not Great-Britain protect an American seaman, 
who has been made an Englishman by being two years 
in her service ? But are we to blame because her seamen 
prefer our service ? There is, in fact, nothing in the 
American practice to justify reprisals. The employ- 
ment of English seamen, who voluntarily tender their 
services, is lawful, however disagreeable it may be to 
England. How far a friendly feeling towards that coun- 
try, may induce us to consult her convenience and in- 
terests, or how far our own weakness, or interest, may- 
require us to wave our rights, is another matter. 

This is placing the subject in the lest reprehensible 
view, as respects England. But when we come to exa- 
mine the manner, in which this pretended right was ex- 
ercised by her, it cannot be doubted for a moment, that 
the whole was a mere pretext to vex our commerce, and 
recruit for her navy, from American ships. This is evi- 
dent, from the uniform practice of impressing men of all 
nations, found in them, Spaniards, Portuguese, Danes, 

2 



xiv INTRODUCTION. 

Russians, Hollanders, and even Negroes. It was, iii 
fact, an insult to every nation in the civilized world. 
Tros Tyriiisque nidlo, was the motto, although not ex- 
actly in the proper sense. The British practice amount- 
ed to subjecting the crew of every American vessel, to be 
drawn up before a lieutenant of the navy, tl>at he nnght 
choose out such as suited his purpose. The good sailor 
was uniformly an Englishman, and the lubber an Ame- 
rican. It has been said, that the number of impressed 
Americans has been exaggerated ; was there no exagge- 
ration, as to the number of Englishmen in American ser- 
vice .'' Is it then of more importance, that Great-Bri- 
tain should prevent a few of her seamen from escaping 
into a foreign service, than it is to us, that free Ameri- 
cans should be doomed to the worst of slavery ? 

pjngland has never known the full extent of the sensa- 
tions produced in America, by the practice of impress- 
ment. The influence of party spirit has contributed to 
deceive her. The greater body of Americans have always 
felt this outrage to their persons, with the keenest indig- 
nation ; no American administration would ever express 
a dirterent sentiment. Let her look to the Roman histo- 
ry, to see what effect is produced in a nation of freemen, 
by the ill usage of one of its citizens ! She is not aware, 
that an humble American citizen is a personage of more 
importance, than an obscure British subject can be. She 
is much mistaken, if she supposes, that the outcry against 
her conduct was a mere party trick : it was deeply felt, 
as an egregious insult. She did not know that the Ame- 
rican seamen were, in general, of a different class from 
her own ; more decently brought up, of better families 
and morals, and many of them looking forward, after the 
expiration of their apprenticeships, to be mates and cap- 
tains of vessels ; or rather she knew it well, and there- 
fore gave them lier baleful preference. But mark the re- 
tribution which follows the steps of injustice. When 
any of these men were so fortunate as to escape from se- 
ven, or ten years servitude, on board a British man of 
war, they breathed nothing but revenge, and imparted 
tlie ssume feeling to all their countrymen. It was pre- 



INTRODUCTION. xv 

dieted, that these men who had wrongs of their own, 
would be found, in case of war with England, no common 
foes. War came, and Britain may read in our naval 
combats, a commentary on her practice of impressment, 
and her tyranny on the ocean. 

As early as the year 1793, it was declared by the Ame- 
rican minister at London, tliat the practice of impress- 
ment had produced great irritation in America, and that 
it was difficult to avoid making reprisals on the British 
seamen in the United States. It is perhaps to be regret- 
ted, that general Washinj^ton's threat was not carried 
into execution, as it might have brought the affair to is- 
sue at once. The practice had grown so vexatious after 
the treaty of 1794, t'nat the British government was told 
in plain terms, that unless a remedy was applied, war 
would be inevitable. It was said to be of such a nature, 
as no American could bear, "that they might as well rob 
the American vessels of their goods, as to drag the Ame- 
rican seamen from their ships, in the manner practised 
by them." Certainly the offence would have been as 
much less, as a bale of goods is of less value than a man. 
It was stated, that as many as two hundred and seventy 
Americans were then actually in the British service, the 
greater part of whom persisted in refusing pay and bounty. 
They were told, that if they had any regard for the friend- 
ship of this country, they would facilitate the means of 
relieving those of our oppressed fellow-citizens. That 
the excuse alleged by Great-Britain, in not being able to 
distinguish between her subjects, and the citizens of Ame- 
rica, was without foundation, inasmuch as foreigners who 
could not be mistaken, were equally liable to impress- 
ment. The honour of the nation, it was said, was deep- 
ly concerned, and unless the practice should be discon- 
tinued, it must ultimately lead to open rupture. This 
was the language uniformly held forth, i)y every succes- 
sive administration of the American government. It was 
the theme of reprobation, and remonstrance, of every 
distinguished statesman of this country. On this sub- 
ject we find Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, 
Monroe, Marshall, Jay, Pickering, King, and many 



xvi INTRODUCTION. 

others, in their official correspondence, fully and uni- 
formly concurring. In fact, these complaints continu- 
ed until the last hour, in consequence of our impolitick 
submission. 

This shocking outrage was at length carried to such 
extent, that voyages were often broken up, and the safe- 
ty of vessels endangered, by not leaving a sufficient 
ijumber of manners on board to navigate them. It was 
cpJculated, that at \e-dst seven thousand *-imericans were 
at one time in the British service, against their will. 
Even as respects her own subjects, the practice of im- 
pressment is one of the most cruel and unjust ; in direct 
contradiction to the general freedom of her constitution, 
and only covered by the most miserable sophistry ; but 
to .America, who would not endure a single one of her 
citizens to be impressed into her own service, it is not 
surprising that it should appear detestable. The tribute 
of Mino«, or of Montezuma, of the youth doomed as a 
sacrifice to infernal idol-, was not more hateful. The 
American was compelled to stoop to the humiliation of 
carrying about him, on the high seas, the certificate of 
his nativity ; and this was soon found unavailing, it was 
torn to pieces by the tyrant, and its fragments scattered 
to t!ie winds. 8he boldly asserted the rigiit of dragging 
from underneath our flag, every one who could not prove 
on the spot, that he was not a British subject. Every fo- 
rei-^nerv no matter of what country, was, in consequence, 
excliuled fro.r. our merchant service. On the part of the 
United States, every possible effort was made to compro- 
mise the matter, but in vain. No offer was ever made 
by Great-Britain, which presented any prospect of put- 
tir g an ^mX to these abuses, while the most fair and ra- 
tional on our part, were rejected. About the year 1800, 
a proposal was made for the mutual exchange of deser- 
ters, but this was rejected by Mr. Adams, for the same 
reason that the President rejected the treaty of 1806, be- 
cause it was thought better to have no provision, than one 
which did not sufficiently provide against the abuses of 
impressment. England offered to make it penal, for any 
of her naval officers to impress our seamen, provided w& 



INTRODUCTION. xvii 

discontinued our practice of naturalizing her suhject?„ 
The mockery of such a proposition, alone fully proves 
her fixed mind. No plan could be devised so suitable to 
ker wishes, as that of subjecting the liberty, life, and 
happiness of an American citizen, to the caprice of eve- 
ry petty lieutenant of her navy : otherwise, she would 
have been contented, with the exclusion of her subjects 
from all American vessels, a thing which she had no 
right to ask, but which we were willing to grant for the 
sake of peace. 

The climax of this extraordinary humiliation, and 
which, a century hence, will scarcely be credited, was 
still wanting; the attack on the Chesapeake occurred, 
and, for the moment, convulsed the nation. The hurst of 
indignation which followed, was even more violent than 
that which was produced by the orders in council of 1793. 
Party animosity was suspended, meetings were assem- 
bled in every village, the newspapers were filled with 
formal addresses, volunteer coaipanies were every where 
set on foot, and in the first phrensy of the moment, the 
universal cry was for immediate war. Although hostili- 
ties were not declared, the feelings of America were 
from that day at war with England ; a greater attention 
was paid to the discipline of our militia, and the forma- 
tion of volunteer corps ; and the government was conti- 
nually making appropriations for our national defence. 
We still resorted to negotiation, and the aggressors, 
thinking that we might now possibly be in earnest, were 
willing to avoid war by a sacrifice of pride. They yield- -. 
ed to the humiliation of surrendering the American citi- 
zens, upon the very deck from which they had been forc- 
ed ;but, at the same time, rewarded the oflicer, by whom 
the violence had been offered. In excusing her conduct, 
England condescended to tell us, with a serious face, 
that she never pretended to the right uf impressing Ameri- 
can citizens, and tiiis she seemed to consi ler, rather as 
a magnanimous acknowledgment. Mumiiiittin^^, indeed, 
to be seriously told, tliat she did not regarci our ci izens 
as her property! Nothing can furnisli stronger proof of 
the extent of the abuse, and the bad policy of our pacifick 

2# 



xviii INTROt)UCTION, 

course of remonstrance. Our sacred duty to our fellow- 
citizens, as well as a regard to our national character, 
forbade such an acquiescence. 

From this review of the subject of impressment, were" 
turn to the other principal branch of our national differ- 
ences. It must be evident to the reader, that nothing 
was to be expected from any temporary arrangement on 
the part of our enemy : that nothing short of a change in 
"her general policy and temper would suffice, and nothing 
but a war could effect this change. Whatever disputes 
we may have had with other nations, they were of little 
moment, coi^ipai ed to our differences with England. To 
settle the terms on which we were to be with her, was of 
the first importance ; our mutual intercourse and trade, 
was of vast extent; she occupied the highway to other na- 
tions, which she could interrupt, when she pleased ; it 
was of little consequence on what terms we were with 
others, as long as our relations with England were not' 
properly adjusted. Our intercourse with France jvas 
comparatively of but little moment; she had not recover- 
ed from tlie phrensies of her revolution : her deportment 
was excentrick, lawless, and unstable; she was a comet, 
threatening all nations. Our true wisdom v/as to keep 
out of her way. On the ocean she was but little to be 
dreaded, and was in no condition to execute her threats. 
But notwithstanding the power of England to sweep our 
commerce from the ocean and to seal our ports, we still 
expected something from her good sense, her justice, or 
her interest. Yet scarcely was the flame of war once 
more lighted up on tlie continent, than both the bellige- 
rents began, under various pretexts, to prey upon our 
commerce. On the part of England the rule of '56 was 
revived, and applied in a manner more intolerable than 
ever. The sufferings of the American merchants were 
such, as to cause them to call loudly on the government 
for protection, and a war with England, at this time, was 
by many thought inevitable. It appeared to be her fixed 
determination, that neutrals should enjoy no trade with- 
out her special license and permission. B_y some it wa^ 
thought, ti^at if we should enter into Jier views, and do- 



INTRODUCTION. xix 

clare war against France, she would amicably arrange 
the points in dispute between us. This, however, was 
very doubtful; it would only have encouraged her to 
make still further claims. Such a thing was, besides, 
impossible. The American people, still smarting under 
so many wrongs unredressed, could not be induced to 
do what would almost amount to a return to subjection. 

In May 1806, Britain commenced her s^^stem of paper 
blockade, by interdicting all intercourse with a great part 
of France and her dependencies. This operated exclu- 
sively on the U. States, who were the only remaining neu- 
trals, 'i'he decrees of the French emperour of the 6th of 
November followed, and were immediately made known 
to our minister at London, with a threat, that if they were 
put into execution (although the British minister well 
knew, that it could be nothing more than a bravado) si- 
milar measures would be adopted. But without waiting 
the result, in fact before the lapse of a fortnight, the Bri- 
tisli^overnment issued the orders i!^council,ofthe 7th Ja- 
nuary 1806, which went the full length of declaring, that 
no vessel should be at liberty to tfade from one port of 
France to anothei', or from a port under her control, 
and from which the English were excluded. Napoleon's 
Milan decrees succeeded, which were little more than 
nominal to the neutral who did not place himself in his 
power; they atfixted us, not Knglantl. We were the 
only sufferers in this system of retaliation, which was, in 
iiict, a shameful disregard to neutral rights on the part of 
both. England was apparently benefitted, inasmuch as 
it struck a blow at our commerce, and rendered it impos- 
sible foe us to spread a sail without her permission. The 
belligerents presented the spectacle of two highwaymen, 
robbing a passenger and then quarrelling for the spoil ; 
and yet this was called retaliation ! 

The United States sincerely wished to be at peace. 
Each of the belligerents accused us of partiality; and 
wherein was that partiality ? Simply in this ; France de- 
clared that we suffered the robberies of England with 
more patience, than her own; and England, that she alone 
had a right to plunder us I Each seemed to consider it as 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

a previous condition of rendering us justice, tliat we 
should compel her adversary to respect our rights. In this 
singular situation, it appeared the wisest course to with- 
draw entirely from the ocean. Kxperience soon taught 
us that our embargo system could not be carried into ef- 
fect, for reasons which it is unnecessary to repeat. The 
restrictive system was substituted; we placed it in the 
power of either of the wrong doers, to make us the open 
enemy of the other, unless that other renounced his 
practices. Napoleon was the first to announce, " a 
sense of returning; justice;*' our government, the 
suifering party, declared itself satisfied. England had 
shown no such sense of returning justice, on this oc- 
casion : she had promised to repeal her orders, pro- 
vided the French decrees were rescinded, but refused 
to take the official declaration of the French minister, 
although we had, in a similar case, before accepted her 
onn, and positively refused to repeal the orders in 
council, in default oL evidence that the French were dis- 
posed to treat ns iceU. 1 do not think it necessary to 
enter into a discussic^ of the question of partiality to 
France or England, or Spain or Algiers, although I- 
caniiot but regard, as exceedingly strange, that any 
one of these powers, should insist upon it as a prelimi- 
nary step to accomii.odution, that we should punish the 
aggressions of any otlier nation. The meaning of both 
was obvious enough ; it was that we should take part in 
the atfairs of Europe. England supposed that we could 
do her service, and Napoleon thought we could injure 
England. 

In the meantime, the loss of American property by the 
depredations of the belligerents, had been immense. The 
vexations practised by the British cruisers off our coast, 
who made it a point to harass the issuing and returning 
commerce of the United States, and which the people of 
England were notable to estimate, kept the pubiick liind 
continually inflamed. Our citizens were distracted 
amid these surrounding difficulties. It was agieed that 
we had ample cause othnstilitv against both belligerents, 
but the administration was accused of undue leaning to- 



INTRODUCTION. xxi 

wards France, and a disposition not sufficiently concilia- 
tory towards England. The friends of the administra- 
tion declared, that the eftbrts to obtain redress from Eng- 
land, were weakened by a powerful British influence, 
which had grown up of late years, in the Eastern States, 
and in the commercial cities. 

While the publick mind was in this state of ferment, 
from our disputes with England and France, our frontiers 
were threatened with an Indian war, which, as usual, was 
attributed to the instigations of the former. The United 
vStates have frequently been charged with cruel violence 
and injustice to the Indians. That we had encroached 
upon their hunting grounds, cannot be denied, but this 
was the necessary consequence of the increase in our 
population; but the great difference between us and 
other nations, in relation to the Indian lands, is, that in- 
stead of taking them without ever acknowledging the 
right of the Indians, we have endeavoured to obtain them 
by fair purchase. The United States were the first to 
respect the Indian territorial right, as they were the first 
to abolish the slave trad^, and domestick slavery ; for, as 
a nation, we have forbidden it. 

There existed a celebrated Indian warriour, who had 
been always remarkable for his enmity to the whites, and 
who, like Pontiac, had formed the design of uniting all 
the diflierent tribes, in order to oppose an effectual bar- 
rier to the further extension of the settlements. Te- 
cuniseh was a formidable enemy; he resorted to every 
artifice to stir up the minds of the Indians against us. 
Of an active and restless character, he visited the most 
distant nations, and endeavoured to rouse them by his 
powerful eloquence. He also assailed the superstitious 
minds of his countrymen, by means of his brother, a kind 
of conjurer, called " the Prophet." He had received as-^ 
surances from the British, of such assistance as would 
enable liim to carry his plans into execution. In the^ 
year 1811, a council was held by governour Harrison, of 
Indiana, at Vincennes, and at whicli Tecumseh attended, 
to remonstrate against a purchase lately made from the 
Kickapoos and some other tribes. In a strain of won- 



xxii INTRODUCTION. 

derful eloquence, the orator inveighed against the en 
croachments of the Americans, gave a faithful history oil 
the progress of the settlements, from the first commence 
ment on the Delaware, to the moment at which he spoke.|j 
When answered by Harrison, he grasped his tomahawk, 
in a fit of phrensy, and boldly charged the American go-|i 
vernour with having uttered what was false; the war-j 
riours who attended him, twenty or thirty in nu!nber,j 
followed his example; but Harrison had fortunatelyi 
posted a guard of soldiers near, who put a stop to their j 
fury. The council was, however, broke up, and no- 
thing short of war was expected to result. 

Towards the close of the year, the frontier settlers had 
become seriously alarmed; every thing on the part of the 
Indians appeared to indicate approaching hostilities. 
Govern our Harrison resolved to move towards the Pro- 
phet's town, with a body of Kentucky and Indiana mili- 
tia, and the 4th United States' regiment, under colonel 
Boyd, to demand satis^-.ction of the Indians, and to put 
a stop to their hostile designs. In the month of Novem- 
ber, having approached within a few miles of the Pro- 
phet's town, the principal chiefs came out with offers of 
peace and submission, and requested the governour to 
encamp for the night, as it was then too late to enter on 
business. It was not long before this was discovered to 
be a treacherous artifice. At four o'clock in the morn 
ing, the camp was furiously assailed, and after a bloody 
and doubtful contest, the Indians were finally repulsed, 
with the loss of one hundred and eighty killed and wound- 
ed, on our part, and a still greater number on theirs. _ 
Colonel Davies, one of the most distinguished lawyers in 
the United States; colonel White, of the Saline, and ap 
number of other valuable officers, fell on this occasion. 
Harrison, after this, destroyed the Prophet's town, and 
having established forts, returned to Vincennes; but 
peace was by no means restored. 

The battle of Tippecanoe (the name of the branch of 
the Wabash on which it was fought) seemed to inflame 
the temper of the country, already calling for war. A 
nav^l incident which occurred soiite time afterwards, did 



INTRODUCTION. xxiii 

not serve to allay it. Off the American coast, commo'- 
dore U dgers, during the night, fell in with a British fri- 
gate, which afterwards proved to he the Little Belt; be* 
ing liailed by the coamr.odore, the commander merely re- 
peated the question, and, after some minutes, actually 
fired several of his guns. On this, the commodore pour- 
ed a broadside into her, and compelled her commander 
to beg for mercy. This was the first check the British 
commanders had received horn us on tlie ocean. 

The conduct o^ Great Britain, which grew every day 
more insupportable, can only be accounted for, by her be- 
lief that we could wot (to use the contemptuous expres- 
sions of the day) ue kicked into a war. The experiment 
of war, on tli' part of the United States, was an awful 
one ! any admiiiisttation iiiij;ht be justly apprehensive of 
venturing upon an experiment, the consequences of wiiich 
no .^ne could foresee. This forbearance was construed 
into pusillanii.iity; and filename and character of the 
United States; had sunk, low, in consequence, witii every 
nation of Europe. We had become the butt and jest of 
Napoleon and tiie English ministry, and who yet vainly 
essayed to drav/ us into a participation in their wars. A 
war with ISapoleon could not have been more than nomi- 
nal, unless we united in a close alliance with England ; 
without this, we could inflict on him nothing more than 
a simple non-intercourse. But a war with England 
wouki be a very difierent matter 3 without forming any 
alliance with Napoleon, we might assail iier commerce, 
her publick sl.ips, and her adjoining provinces. 

But Great Britain was contending for her existence, 
she was fighting the battles of the civilized world, it was 
therefore cruel and ungenerous to press Our demands at 
such a moment. This was by no means evident. If it 
had been true, why did she continue, at such a time, to 
insult and abuse us in every possible sliape ? Notwith- 
standing this appeal, there were many amongst us who 
could only see a contest between two great nations for 
the usastery of the world. We saw the stupendous 
schemes of British aggrandisement, in every part of the 
globe, which had little the appearance of fighting for her 



xxlv INTRODUCTION. 

existence. We saw her already mistress of the seas; 
we regarded any actual invasion of her shores, as a thing 
too visionary, even for Napoleon; we saw, in the lawless 
and unbounded projects of this despot, at which England 
affected to be alarmed, her best security, as they kept 
alive the fears and j«ialousies of tiie surrounding nations, 
and continually undermined his throne. We have seen 
how inconsiderable were, in reality, all his conquests. 
The existence of England was never in danger; Napo- 
leon could never have subdued Spain and Russia ; two 
projects, wliich all now admit to have been the extreme 
of folly. England was not fighting the battles of the 
world, but of her ambition ; she was not the bulwark of 
our religion, but the instigator of the savages ; she was 
not the world's last hope — that last hope is America : not 
as the pretended champion in the cause of other nations, 
but as a living argument that tyranny is not necessary to 
the safety of man ; that to be degraded and debased, is 
not the way to be great, prosperous, and happy. 



HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 



CHAPTER I. 

Declaration of War— General Hall reaches Detroit — Crosses into 
Canada— Skirmishes on the River aux Canards — Battle of 
Brownstown — Taking of Michillimackinac — Taking of Chi- 
cag-o — Battle of Magagua — The surrender of Hull. 

An interesting period in the history of this youthful na- 
tion was fast approaching. Our affairs with Great Bri- 
tain had become every day more and more (Embarrassed. 
The storm already lowered, and there was little hope 
that the gathering clouds, would pass harmless over us. 
In consequence of this state of things, the session of the 
twelfth congress had been protracted to an unusual length, 
and the eyes of America were turned towards it, in anx- 
ious expectation. On the fifth of June, the President 
laid before Congress the correspondence between our se- 
cretary of state, and the British government, which seem- 
ed to preclude all hope of coming to an adjustment, in 
the two principal points in dispute, the orders in council, 
and the subject of impressment. But, we had so often 
been on the point of a rupture with Great Britain, that 
no certain conjecture could be formed by the most intel- 
ligent, of the probable result, 'i'he publick voice called 
loudly for war, at least this was the sense of a great ma- 
jority of the nation. At length, on the eighteenth of June, 
after sitting witli closed dom ?, the solemn and important 
appeal to arms was announced. The President had com- 
municated his message, in which all our complaints a- 
gainst Great Britain were enumerated with great force, 
and an opini^iji expressed that no remedy, no hope now 

3 



26 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

remained, but in open war. The committee of foreign 
relations, to whom the message was referred, concurred 
with the President, in recommending the measure. An 
act of Congress was accordingly passed, which received 
the sanction of the President on the same day ; and on 
tlie day followinjr, the nineteenth of June, 1812, war was 
pubiickly proclaimed. 

This highly important and eventful act of the Nation- 
al Legislature was variously received. In some places 
it produced demonstrations of joy, similar to that which 
followed our declaration of independence. War, as a 
calamity, although unavoidable in the present state of the 
world, where the strong are too apt to trample on the 
rights of the M-eak, should be received without despon- 
dency, but not with gladness. There were many, how- 
ever, who regarded the approaching conflict, as a second 
struggle in support of national independence, and not 
in the course of ordinary wars, waged for the sake of 
mere interest, or in pursuit of the plans of state policy. 

On the sea board, and in the Eastern states, the sensa- 
tions which it produced were far from being joyful. The 
sudden gloom by which their commercial prosperity was 
overcast, caused an awful sadness, as from an eclipse of 
ihe sun. The commerce of the cities, although foRSome 
years greatly restricted by the depredations of the two 
great contending powers of Europe, still lingered in hopes 
of better times ; it must now be totally at an end ; their 
ships must be laid up, and the busy hum of peaceful ac- 
tivity be stilled. In difierent parts of the United States, 
the war would necessarily be more severely felt ; in an 
extensive country like this, it is impossible it should be 
otherwise. Moreover, there were those who regarded 
this measure as a most interesting and eventful experi- 
njent. An opinion was prevalent that the form of our 
government was not adapted to war, from the want of 
sufiitient energy in the executive branch, and from un- 
avoidable divisions in the national councils. But, what 
v/as much more to be feared, the union of our states had 
scarcely yet been perfectly cemented; and if the interests 
ot any extensive portion should be too deeply affected, a 



HISTORY OF XriE Yv'AR. 27 

dissolution of our compact, " tiie noblest fabrick of Ijumaii 
invention," might ensue. A powerful party was oppos- 
ed to the measure,on the groun<l5that an accommodation 
with England might yet be made, that war couid not be 
otherwise than in subserviency to the views of France, 
and that we were unprepared for so serious a contest. 
The opposition of a great portion of the population, of 
the talents, and \Arealth of tlie country, wouid certainly 
tend to throw embarrassments on its prosecution. Una- 
nimity, in so important a measure, was not to be expect- 
ed ; yet the disadvantages of this opposition would 
be greatly felt. It was foreseen that our Atlantick cities 
would be much exposed, that the coasts oft'ie southern 
states would be laid open to the incursions of marauding 
parties, and that tlie western frontier would feci all the 
horrours of a savage and murderous warfare. jMany per- 
sons, on the other hand, entertained the belief, that the 
Canadas would fall, and that the Floridas, incase that 
Spain should be brought into the contest on the side of 
England, would be ours. 'J'hus should we be freed from 
troublesome neighbours, and end forever, that dreadful 
species of hostility in which we had been so often engag- 
ed with the savages. These hopes were not ill foun(red ; 
but we were not aware, at the time, of our deficiency in 
experience, and want of a full knowledge of our resour- 
ces ; the causes of many subsequent calamities. 
- For some years previous to the declaration of war, a 
military spirit was gradually diffusing itself amongst the 
people. Pains were taken in disciplining volunteer com- 
panies throughout the country, a degree of pride and emu- 
lation was every where felt, to excel in military exer- 
cises. There seemed to be a kind of instinct, to prepare 
for the approach of war. But the military establis'oments 
were exceedingly defective. Acts of Congress had al- 
r^^dy authorised the enlistment of twenty -five thousand 
men, 'out it was found impossible to fill the ranks of a re- 
gular armj, from the small number of individuals who 
were not in easy circumstances, and therefore under no 
necessity of enlisting. 'Ihe whole number already en- 
listed, scarcely amounted to five thousand men, and these 



28 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

scattered over an immense surface of country. The Pre- 
sident was authorised to receive fifty thousand volunteers, 
and to call out one hundred thousand militia. This force 
coukl not be expected to be otherwise serviceable, than 
for the purpose of defending the sea coast, or the fron- 
tier. A difficulty of still greater importance existed ; 
the best troops in the world, are inefficient, unless they 
happen to be led by able and experienced officers. Our 
ablest revolutionary heroes had paid the debt of nature, 
and those who remained, were either far advanced in life, 
or had not been proved in other than subordinate situa- 
tions ; and besides, from long repose, they had laid aside 
all their military habits. There prevailed, however, a 
disposition to place a degree ©f reliance on the skill of 
the revolutionary soldier, from the mere circumstance of 
having been such, which was not corrected until we had 
been severely taught by after experience. Such was the 
situation of things, at the commencement of hostilities. 

Whether to be attributed to the nature of our govern- 
ment, whose genius is not well adapted to offensive v/ar- 
fare on land, or to the precipitancy and want of forecast 
in our rulers, certain it is, that the preparations for the in- 
\'asion of the province of Canada, were by no means 
suitable to the occasion. 

Governour Hull, at tiie head of about two thousand 
men, was on his march to Detroit, with a view of putting 
an end to the Indian hostilities, when he received infor- 
mation of the declaration of war. His force consisted 
of about one thousand regulars, and twelve hundred vo- 
lunteers from the state of Ohio, who had rendezvoused on 
the twenty-ninth of April. In the beginning of June 
they advanced to Urbanna, where they were joined by 
the 4th regiment of United States infantry, and imme- 
diately commenced their march through the wilderness, 
still in possession of the Indians, and w hich separates ^-^^ 
inhabited part of the state of Ohio, from the Mionigafl 
territor3^ From the town of Urbanna to th<: Rapids, a 
distance of one hundred and twenty ipJ^es, they had to 
pass through a country without roads, and abounding 
with marshes. From the Rapids to Detroit, along the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 29 

Miamie of the Lake, and along the Detroit river, tliere 
were a few settlemejits chiefly of French Canadians, but 
in general the territory was but thinly inhabited ; the 
whole of its scattered popuhition scarcely exceeded five 
or six thousTind souls. It was near the last of June 
when this little army readied the Rapids, after having 
experienced considerable obstacles, in passing through 
a gloomy, and almost trackless wilderness. They now 
entered an open and romantick country, and proceeded 
on their march, full of an ardent and adventurous spirit, 
which sought only to encounter difficulties and dangers. 
The volunteers of Ohio consisted of vsome of the most 
enterprising and active young men of the state ; finer 
materials were never collected. After taking some re- 
freshments here, they loaded a schooner with a part of 
tlieir baggage, in order to lighten their march. By some 
misfortune, intelligence of the existing wardid nutreach 
the army, until it was on this march, and was followed 
by the news of the capture of the schooner, and a lieu- 
tenant and thirty men, who had been put on board. On 
the fifth of July, they encamped at Sprin;^ Wells, oppo- 
site Sandwich, and within a few miles of Detroit. For 
some days the army had been under the necessity of pro- 
ceedinJrWith great caution, to guard against surprises 
from the Indians, and their allies, and who, but for this 
timely arrival, would have possessed themselves of De- 
troit : they, however, had thrown up breast-works on th.e 
opposite side of the river, and had made an attempt to 
fortify a situation about three miles below. From both 
these holds, they were soon compelled to retreat, by a 
well directed fire from the American artillery. 

This was the favourable moment for commencing ac- 
tive operations against the neighbouring pmvince of Up- 
per Canada ; and as governour Hull had received discre- 
tionary power to act oiTensively, an immediate invasion 
I was determined on. Preparations for this purpose were 
! directly made, and boats provided to eflect the passage 
I ©f the whole army at the same instant. The British^ 
aware of this design, attempted to throw up a battery, 
for the purpose of opposing the landing ; this was twice 
a* 



so HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

rendered abortive ; on their attempting it a third time, 
they were permitted to accomplish it unmolested, as our 
army could either land above or below it, and thus keep 
out of the reach of their guns, which consisted of seven 
small cannon, and two mortars.— On the twelfth, every 
thing being made ready, the army embarked, and landed 
without molestation, some distance above the fort, and 
entered the village of Sandwich. The inhabitants made 
no shew of resistance, and were therefore respected in 
their persons and property ; the principal part, however, 
had been marched to Maiden, for the purpose of aiding in 
its defence. A proclamation was immediately issued by 
Hull, in which he declared his intention of invading 
Canada, but gave every assurance of protection to the 
inhabitants, whom he advised to take no part in the con- 
test. The proclamation was written in a spirited and 
energetick style, and had he been eventually successful, 
th^e is no doubt but that it would have been regarded 
as an eloquent production. It has been censured by the 
British as intended to seduce her subjects from their al- 
legiance, as if this were not justifiable in an invading 
army; and as violating the laws of civilized warfare, in 
the declaration that no quarter would be given to any 
whitemiin, found fighting by the side of an India«(|^ When 
"we consider, that Indians give no quarter, there may be 
as much justice in retaliatinfTj upon those who are fight- 
ing by their sides, as upon the savages themselves, for it 
may be presumed that both are actuated by the same in- 
tentions. It is not to be supposed that Hull was serious- 
ly resolved on carrying this threat into execution ; his 
object was to prevent, if possible, the employment of 
savages. 

In a few days^ possession was taken of the whole coun- 
try along the Trench, or Thames, a beautiful river, 
whose borders are well settled. This service was per- 
formed by Col. M^Arthur, of the Ohio militia, who re- 
turned to camp, after having collected a considerable 
quantity of blankets, ammunition, and other military 
stores. Col. Cass was then despatched in an opposite 
direction, towards Fort Maiden, with two hundred and 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 5l 

ftighty men, for the purpose of reconnoitring the British 
and Indians. This place is situated at the junction of 
Detroit river with lake Erie, thirteen miles south of 
Hull's camp. Col. Cass, following the course of the 
stream, reached the river Aux Canards, about four miles 
from Maiden, where he found a British detachment in 
possession of the bridge. After reconnoitring t!ie situa- 
tion of the enemy, the colonel placed a rifle company un- 
der capt. Robinson, near the place, with orders, to divert 
the attention of the guard, by keeping up a tire until the 
remainder of the party should appear on the opposite side. 
This part of the detachment, was to have forded the river 
about five miles below. The design was frustrated, by 
their want of a sufficient knowledge of the country ; the 
detachment was unable to reach the designated spot, un- 
til late in the evening; in the n»eanwhile, the attempt to 
surprise the post had been discovered, and it was strength- 
ened by considerable reinforcements ; notwithstanding 
w hich, a smart skirmish ensuod, and the enemy was com- 
pelled to abandon his position, after losing eleven killed 
and wounded, besides several deserters. Col. Cass, 
having no orders to retain possession of it, although con- 
stituting the principal obstruction between the American 
camp and Maiden, thought proper to retire. The floor 
of this bridge was afterwards taken up, and a breast-work 
erected on the bank to obstruct the passage of the river. 
There occurred, a few days afterwards, another skirmish 
at the same place, between the guard and one hundred 
and fifty men under col. M'Arthur. The colonel hav- 
ing advanced somewhat too near the enemy, while re- 
connoitring their situation, narrowly escaped being cut 
off from his men. A messenger informed him, that se- 
Teral Indians had been seen passing to his rear, and it 
was at the same time discovered, that those who had 
been stationed at the battery, were rapidly quitting it. 
He had scarcely time to turn his horse, when he, toge- 
ther with his companions, Dr. M*Anaw. and capt. Pu- 
thuflf, were fired upon by a party of Indians, concealed 
in the bushes. Fhe detachment, on the report of the 
guns, advanced to the succour of their leAder, and drove 



32 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the Indians back. The Indian party is said to have beeii| 
commanded by the daring; chief Tecumseh. 

These skirmishes, in which the Americans were gene- 
rally victorious, served to inspire confidence, and, toge- 
ther with the proclamation, had an efiect upon the Ca- 
nadians, many of whom joined our standard, and threwj 
themselves on Hull for protection. These were but thei 
preludes to the attack of Fort Maiden, the rallying point 
of the British power in this quarter. Until this place 
should be captured, it was idle to think of making any, 
progress in the conquest of the British possessions. Pre-; 
parations for this purpose proceeded but slowly. It 
seems that every thing was to be provided after the in- 
vasion. It was not until the beginning of August, that 
two twenty four pounders and three howitzers were 
mounted. In the meanwhile, no steps had been taken 
to ascertain v/hether the Fort might not be carried by 
escalade. The capture of this place, which would have^ 
been necessary in the prosecution of any further design, 
had uow become absolutely essential to self-preservation. 
A most unexpected event had luippeaed during the last 
month — an event to which many of our subsequent mis- 
fortunes is to be attributt'd. This was the surrender of 
Michiilimackinac. 

On the sixteenth of July, a party of three hundred 
white troops, and upwards of six hundred Indians, em- 
barked at St. Josephs, and reached the island next morn- 
ing. A prisoner was despatched to inform the gaijri- 
son, and the inhabitants of the village, that if any resis- 
tance were mad« they would all be indiscriminately put 
to death. Many of the inhabitants esaapeJ to the ene- 
my for protection. The garrison consisted of no more 
than fifty-six men, under the command of lieutenant 
Hanks, of the artillery. A flag was now sent by the 
British, to the fort, demanding a surrender. This was 
the first intimation of the declaration of war, which the 
garrison had received. Until this moment, the Ameri- 
can commandant had considered this as one of the out- 
rages 01) the part of the Indians, which of late had beea 
frequent j he had therefore resolved to- defend himself to 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 33 

ilie last extremity. He now considered it most prudent 
to agree to a capitulation, as there was no hope of being 
able to defend himself successfully, against so great a 
disparity of force; the attempt might compromit not only 
the lives of his soldier?, but of the inhabitants of the is- 
land, who had sought refuge in the Fort. The garrison 
was accordingly delivered up ; security to the property 
and persons of individuals was stipulated, and the Bri- 
tish put in possession of one of the strongest positions ia 
the United Estates, on that account, sometimes called the 
American Gibraltar. The situation completely com- 
1 niands the northwest trade, which is compelled to pass 
immediately under the guns of the fort, and consequently 
affords the best means of intercepting the Indian sup- 
plies, and of checking the incursions of those restless 
warriours. It is difficult to say to whose charge this ailair 
is to be laid. Without the intervention of some extra- 
ordinary circumstance, with which we are unacquainted, 
I there seems to be nothing to excuse the governour in ne- 
glecting to notify the garrison, which was only at the 
I distance of two hundred and forty miles, and twelve 
I days were allowed him for this purpose. 

Intelligence of this unfortunate occurrence reached 
i Hull on the 23d of July, whiie engaged in making pre- 
parations for the attack on Maiden. The British, by 
; this time, were co«siderabl}|- reinforced, and aided by 
j an additional »«»^ber of Indians. The golden moment 
i had been suffered to pass. It is generally conceded, 
I that i-f an assault had been made on the fort, in the first 
distance, it must have fallen. This was the opinion of 
the officers ; the general, however, declined it under va- 
rious pretexts. But having neglected this opportunity, 
there was no longer any hope of carrying the place with- 
out being provided with a train of artillery, and the 
necessary means for a regular assault. The necessity 
of possessing the post, became every day more apparent. 
With the fall of Michillimackinac, that of Chicago, and 
all the other western posts, might be expected to follow, 
and the Indian tribes would move down with all the force 
uf the North-west Company, rendering the situation of 



54 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

our army extremely critical. In anticipation of these 
events, the general had sent repeated expresses to pro-: 
cnre reinforcements. His expectations of those rein- 
forcements, may probably be one reason of the slowness 
of his movements against Maiden, contenting himself 
Avith carrying on a vi<rila^t partizan war, in itself of 
little consequence. Reinforcements were not hastened, 
from the belief that tlie force under his command, was 
more than sufficient for all the purposes that could be 
accomplished in this quarter. 

The spirit which had animated the troops, in the first 
instance, was gradually giving way to the feelings of des- 
pondency ; while their commander had by this time near- 
ly lost their confidence. By the first of August, every 
thing being made ready for the attack on Maiden, a 
council of war was convened, and the result was a de- 
termination to make it immediately. Desertions fiom 
the Canada militia still continued, and the whole force 
was animated with the prospect of undertaking an en- 
terprise, which it was believed could not but be successful. 
The cannon was well mounted, and embarked on float- 
ing batteries. The general had approved the delibera- 
tions of the council, and the day was actually appointed, 
for carrying them into execution. 

Sometime before this, a company of Ohio volunteers, 
under the command of captain Bruch, had arrived at the 
river Raisin, with supplies for the army. As their march 
to Detroit, the distance of thirty-six miles, v.-^s attended 
with considerable dangers, from parties of the onemy, 
it was deemed prudent to remain here until an escort 
could be sent to guard them. This duty was confided te 
major Vanhorn, with a detachment of one hundred and 
fifty men. On his second day's march, near Browns- 
town, he was suddenly attacked on all sides by British 
regulars and Indians. His little force made a deter= 
mined resistance, and being commanded by a brave and 
skilful officer, was at length brought off, with the loss of 
nineteen killed and missing, and nine wounded. Cap- 
tains Gilcrease, M'Calloch, and Bostler were killed, and 
captaia Ulry sererely wounded. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S6 

Scarcely had this detachment left the camp at Sand- 
wich, when a sudden and unlocked for change took place 
in the determination of the commander in chief. Without 
any apparent cause, or the occurrence of any new event, 
he announced his intention of abandoning not only the 
design upon Maiden, but even the position which he then 
held. This operated like a thunderbolt upon the army ; 
the volunteers murmured : they upbraided their com- 
mander with pusillanimity, and even treachery ; and 
lit was with difficulty they could be restrained by their 
own officers, in whom they confided. The disappoint- 
ment, and vexation, which ensued, can be better ima- 
gined than described ; all confidence in their leader was 
i evidently at an end ; if treacherous, he might deliver 
I them up to be massacred ; and it was evident he was de- 
I ficient in the skill and ability necessnjy to command. 
ilt was with much reluctance this gallant little army was 
'compelled to abandon, almost in disgrace, the iiatter- 
; ing hopes, which they thought themselves on the point of 
I realizing. They reached the opposite shore on the eighth 
I of August, where they received the intelligence of the 
I affair of major Vanhorn, of the day before. Such was the 
'termination of this expedition into Canada, of whose suc- 
! cess, an account was every moment expected in the 
United States ; happy had it been if the misfortunes of 
i our arms had terminated here ! The enemy's territory 
; was not, however, entirely evacuated ; a detachment of 
i about three hundred men, was left to keep possession of 
Sandwich, principally with a view of affording some pro- 
tection to the Canadians, who had been induced by HulFs 
! proclamation to join our standard. 

j One thing was now on all hands considered indispen- 
j sable, the opening the communication with the river Rai- 
Isin. In a few weeks, the army might stand in need of 
jthe supplies in the possession of captain Brush, and^t all 
i events, its situation was rendered extremely inijplea- 
jsant, by being thus cut off from all communication with 
;the state of Ohio. To effect this object, a respectable 
force was detached under lieut. col. James Miller, of the 
United States' army, consisting of three hundred regulars 



36 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

of the gallant 4th regiment, which had distinguished it 
self under col. Boyd, at the battle of Tippecanoe, and 
also about two hundred militia. The enemy, anticipating 
a renewal of the attempt, had sent reinforcement's of re- 
gulars and Indians, so that their force was little short of! 
seven hundred and fifty men : this force might, moreover, 
be increased during an engagement, from Maiden, which;: 
is Situated opposite Brownstown. They had also thrown 
up a temporary breast-work, of trees and logs, about four 
miles from this town, at a place called Magagua, behind 
which the greater part of the Indians, under Tecumseh, 
lay concealed until the Americans should approach. The 
whole commanded by major Muir, of the British army. 

On the ninth, our detachment proceeded on its march, 
but with great caution, from the danger of surprise. 
They, however, drew near the ambuscade, before it 
was discovered, when suddenly the attack was com- 
menced on captain Snelling, who commanded the ad- 
vance, with the usual barharous shouts of the enemy. 
This corps, undaunted by this sudden onset, kept its 
ground until the main body approached, when the Indians 
sprang up, and with tlie regulars furiously advanced ta 
tlie front of the breast-work, where they formed a regu- 
lar line, and comm<^Rced a heavy fire. Col. Miller, with 
the utmost celerity and coolness, drew up his men, open- 
ed a brisk fire, and th<^n chargecl. The Iiritish regulars 
gave way, hut the Indians under I'ecumseh, betaking 
T.liemsolves to the woods on each side, kept their ground 
with desperate obstinacy. The regulars being rallied, 
returned to the combat, which continued for some time, 
with equal resolution. The stoutest hearts might have 
failed when thus attacked on all sides, by more than five 
hundred savages, painted in the most hideous manner, 
and Yelling like demons, engaged at the same time with 
a bodWf regulars. Disregarding both the savage shrieks 
and tiUmusketry of the British, the American leader 
repelled tlieir attacks on every side, his troops gallantly 
maintaining their ground until the enemy was compelled 
to yield. Tliey retired slowly to Brownstown, literally 
retreating at the point of the bayonet ; here tlie^ hastily 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ST 

embarked in beats, provided for their reception. Had 
not this precaution been taken, it is probable the whole 
force would have fallen into the hands of the Americans, 
Their loss was, of the regulars, fifteen killed, and thirty 
or forty wounded, but of the Indians nearly one hundred 
were left on the field. In this battle, which lasted about 
two hours, we had fifteen killed, and about sixty wound- 
ed. The officers who chiefly distinguished themselves 
were captain Baker, lieutenants Larabee and Peters, 
and ensign Whistler. The next day at noon, col. Miller, 
M'bo kept possession of Brownstown, received orders to 
return to Detroit. This was rendered necessary from 
the fatigue which his command had experienced in the 
engagement of the day before. It was thought more ad- 
visable, to send a fresh detachment to accomplish the 
ultimate object. 

An occurrence took place about this time in another 
quarter, which ought not to be passed in silence. Cap- 
tain Heald, who commanded at fort Chicago, had receiv- 
ed orders from Hull to abandon that post and make his 
way to Detroit. He accordingly consigned the publick 
property to the care of some friendly Indians ; and with 
his company, about fifty regulars, accompanied by seve- 
ral families, which had resided near this place, set out on 
his march. He had proceeded but a short distance along 
the beach of the lake, when he was attacked by a large 
body of Indians, who occupied the bank. Captain 
Heald ascended the bank, and fought them for some time, 
until they had gained his rear and taken possession of 
his horses and baggage. He then retired to an open 
piece of ground, where he M^as enabled to keep the In- 
dians at bay. But finding that he would be compelled 
to yield at last, he accepted the offer of protection from 
an Indian chief. Twenty-six regulars were killed, and 
all the militia ; a number of women and children were 
inhumanly murdered. Captain Wells and ensign War- 
ner were among the killed. Heald with his lady, who 
Ihad received six wounds, himself severely wounded, af- 
|ter a variety of escapes, at length reached Michillimac- 
Ikinac. 

4 



38 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

The victory at Magagua, though brilliant, and highly 
lionourable to the American arms, was productive ot no 
essential advantage. Two days afterwards, a despatch 
was sent to captain Brush, who was still in waiting for 
the escort at the river Raisin, informing him that in con- 
sequence of the fatigue of the victorious detachment, it 
had been rendered ^incapable of proceeding further, and 
that it was become impossible to send a sufficient force 
by the usual rout ; that he must therefore remain where 
he was until circumstances should be more favourable. 
In a postscript, the general advised him that an attempt 
would be made to open the communication in another 
(luarter, by crossing the river Huron higher up the coun- 
t)v. And accordingly, on the 14th5 colonels Miller and 
Cass were despatched with three hundred and fifty men, 
for this purpose. Sometime before this, an express had 
been received from General Hall, commanding at Nia- 
gara, bringing information that it was not in his power to 
send reinforcements. 

On the 19th, the British took a position opposite De- 
troit, and immediately set themselves about erecting bat- 
teries. On their approach, major Denny, who command- 
ed at Sandwich, abandoned his position, and crossed 
over to Detroit, it having been determined to act entirely 
on the defensive. The Britisli, who continued their pre- 
parations for the assault, on the 15th sent a flag to sum- 
mon tlie place, accompanied by a note from the British 
commander Gen. Brock, which, after stating that the 
forces at his disposal warranted the demand, concluded 
in these words ; ''It is far from my inclination to join 
in a war of extermination, but you must be aware that 
the numerous body of Indians who have attached them- 
selves to my tro«ps, will be beyond my control the mo- 
ment the contest commences. You will find me dispos- 
ed to enter into such conditions as will satisfy the most 
scrupulous sense of honour. Lieutenant col. M'Donald 
and major Glegg are fully authorised to enter into any 
arrangements that may tend to prevent the unnecessary 
effusion of blood." 

To this suRimons an answer was returned, that the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 39 

fort would be defended to the last extremity. The Bri- 
tish immediately opened their batteries, and continued 
to throw shells during a great part of the night. The 
fire was returned, but with little eftect on either side. 
In the morning, it was discovered that the British were 
landing their troops at Spring Wells, under cover of 
their ships. To prevent the landing from the fort, at 
this moment, was a matter impossible; the town lying 
between it and the river. But if Hull had not neglected 
the advice of his officers, he might have effectually pre- 
vented it, by erecting batteries on the bank, where they 
would be compelled to debark. A strange fatality seem- 
ed to attend this unfortunate man. The en'emy having 
landed, about ten o'clock advanced towards the fort in 
close column, and twelve deep. From the position of 
the Fort, the enemy were enabled to approach within two 
hundred yards before its guns could be brought to bear, 
being thus far sheltered by the town. The American 
force was, however, judiciously disposed to prevent their 
advance. The militia, and a great part of the volun- 
teers, occupied the town, or were posted behind pickets, 
whence they could annoy the enemy's flanks ; the re- 
gulars defended the fort, and two twenty-four pounders 
charged with grape, were advantageously posted on an 
eminence, and could sweep the whole of the enemy's 
line. All was now silent expectation: the daring foe 
still slowly advanced, apparently regardless, or uncon- 
scious of their danger ; for their destruction must have 
been certain, had they not been impressed with contempt 
for a commander, who had so meanly abandoned Sand- 
wich a few days before. The hearts of our countrymen 
beat high, at the near prospect of regaining their credit. 
But who can describe the chagrin and mortification which 
took possession of these troops, when orders were issued 
for them to retire to the fort ; and the artillery, at the 
very moment when it was thought the British were ad- 
vancing to certain destruction, was ordered not to fire ! 
The American troops, together with a great number of 
women and children, were gathered into the fort, almost 
too narrow to contain them. Here the troops were or* 



40 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

dered to stack their arms, and, to the astonishment of 
every one, a white flag, in token of submission, was sus- 
pended from the walls. A British officer rode up to ascer- 
tain the cause, for this surrender was no less unexpect- 
ed to the assailants. A capitulation was agreed to, with- 
out even stipulating the terms. Words are wanting to 
express the feelings of the Americans on this occasion ; 
they considered themselves basely betrayed, in thus sur- 
rendering to an inferiour force without firing a gun, when 
ihey were firmly convinced that that force was in their 
power. They had provisions for at least fifteen days, and 
were provided with all the requisite munitions of war. 
They were compelled, thus humiliated, to march out, 
and to surrender themselves prisoners at discretion. | 
Tlie British took immediate possession of the fort, with 
all the publick property it contained ; amongst which 
there were forty barrels of powder, four hundred rounds 
of fixed twenty -four pound shot, one hundred thousand 
ball cartridges, two thousand five hundred stand of arms, 
twenty -five pieces of iron cannon, and eight of brass, the 
greater number of which had been captured by the A- 
mericans during the revolutionary war. 

The whole territory, and all the forts and garrisons of 
the United States, within the district of the general, 
Av«re also formally surrendered ; and the detachments 
under colonels Cass and M' Arthur, as well as the party 
under captain Brush, were included in the capitulation. 
Orders had been despatched the evening before, for the 
detachment under Gass and M^ Arthur to return, and 
they had approached almost sufficiently near to discover 
the movements of the enemy, while their accidental si- 
tuation, might enable them to render the most material 
service during the attack. They were surprised at the 
silence which prevailed when every moment was expect- 
ed to announce the conflict, and that surprise was soon 
changed into rage, when they learned the capitulation. 
A British officer was then despatched to the river Rai- 
sin, to convey the intelligence to captain Brush, who at 
first gave no credit to so improbable a tale, and actually- 
put the officer in confinement. The oitelancholy story 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 41 

was, however, soon confirmed by some Americans who 
had escaped. Captain Brush inciignantly refused to sub- 
mit to the capitulation, declaring that Hull had no right 
to include him, and determined to return to the state of 
Ohio. He first deliberated, whether he should destroy 
the publick stores, which he had in his possession, and 
which he could not carry away ; but reflecting that this 
might be used as a pretext for harsh treatment to his 
countrymen, he resolved to abandon them. The greater 
part of the volunteers and militia, was permitted to re- 
turn home : but the regulars, together with the general, 
were taken to Quebec. 

In his official despatch, Hull took great pains to free 
his conduct from censure. In swelling the account of 
the dangers with which he conceived himself beset, eve- 
ry idle rumour which had operated on his fears, was plac- 
ed under contribution, while his imagination conjured 
up a thousand frightful phantoms. He magnified the re- 
inforcements under colonel Proctor, and gave implicit 
belief to the story that the whole force of the Northwes- 
tern fur company, under major Chambers,>'as approach- 
ing ; nothing, in fact, was forgotten, which could height- 
en the picture, or tend to take the blame from himself. 
While in the Canada side, it was impossible to effect 
any thing against Maiden, from the difficulty of trans- 
porting his artillery. Every thing is difficult to a man 
who wants the necessary talents. The British garrison 
had been wonderfully strengthened, and at this critical 
moment, general Hall, of Niagara, announces that it is 
not in his power to assist him. What then could be 
done but to cross over to Detroit, that is, to abandon the 
inhabitants of Canada, who had placed themselves under 
his protection ; to fly, before the enemy had even at- 
tempted to attack or molest him, and thus encourage 
them in what they would never probably have, thought 
possible to accomplish^ 

But what appears most to figure in this laboured vin- 
dication, is the frightful display of Indian auxiliaries; but 
few of them, it is true, were to be seen, and therefore 
the greater room was left to the imagination. Aceording; 
4=* 



42 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

to Hull, the whole "Northern hive," as he called it, warf 
let loose; Winnebagoes, Wyandots, Hurons, Chippe- 
wa} s,Knistenoos, and Aigonquins. Potto watomies, Sacks, 
Kickapoos, and all the western tribes, were swarming in 
the neighbouring woods, and concealed behind every 
bush, ready to rush to the indiscriminate slaughter of the 
Americans. Lest all this should be regarded as the ex- 
aggeration of a disordered intellect, he represented his si- 
tuation, at the moment of the surrender, as most deplora- 
ble. In consequence of th'e absence of colonels Cass 
and M'Arthur, he could not bring more than six hundred 
men into the field, and he was, moreover, destitute of 
all necessary supplies and munitions of war : whereas 
by the morning's report, his force exceeded a thousand 
men fit for duty, besides the detachment, which might 
be expected to arrive about the time of the engage- 
ment; and also three hundred Michigan militia, who 
were out on duty, which would make his force up- 
wards of sixteen hundred men. This force was much 
superiour to that of the British, which consisted of a- 
bout seven hundred regulars, one half of which was 
nothing more than militia dressed in uniform, for the 
purpose of deception, and about six hundred Indians. 
Every other part of his statement was proved, by the offi- 
cers under his command, to have been false or exagge- 
rated. The most ordinary exertion would have sufficed, 
to have completely destroyed the British force. He de* 
clared, that he was actuated by a desire to spare the eftu« 
sion of human blood ! If he had designedly intended the 
destruction of his fellow-citizens, he could not have fal- 
len upon a more effectual plan ; for by thus opening the 
frontier to the tomahawk of the savage, and giving rea- 
sons to our enemy for representing us as contemptible in 
arms, he invited those very savages, which he so much 
dreaded, to throw off' every restraint, and declare them- 
selves our foes. He might have foreseen, that a consi- 
derable force would be sent by the British, for the pur- 
pose of retaining this province, and that our country 
would be compelled to suffer an immense expense of blood 
and treusure, before our possessions here could be regain- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 45 

ed. Although this hecame the field of glory, where many 
of our countrymen gained imperishable renown, yet the 
effect of this lamentable occurrence, was visible in every 
subsequent transaction of the war, on the borders of Ca- 
nada. 

The sensations produced by this occurrence, through- 
out the United States, and particularly in the Western 
country, can scarcely be described. At first no one could 
believe an event so extraordinary and unexpected ; the 
publick mind was so entirely unprepared for it, that uni- 
versal astonishment was excited. Whatever doubts 
might have been entertained, of his being able to sub- 
due the country which he had invaded, there were none 
of his being able to c'efend himself. Never was any peo- 
ple more deeply and universally chagrined by this event; 
in a country, too, where every man has a personal feeling 
for the honour and welfare of the nation, and where 
the strongest sympathy would be felt with the friends 
and families of the brave soldiers, who had been tlius 
wretchedly surrendered by their commander. 

The general v/as afterwards exchanged for thirty Bri- 
tish prisoners. Neither the government nor the people 
were satisfied with his excuses. The affair was solemnly 
investigated by a court martial. He was charged with 
treason, cowardice, and unofficer-like conduct. On the 
first charge, the court declined giving an opinion ; on the 
two last he was sentenced to death ; but was recommend- 
ed to mercy in consequence of his revolutionary services^ 
and his advanced age. The sentence was remitted bj 
the president; but his name was ordered to be strucfc 
from the rolls of the army. 



44 HISTORY OF THE WAR 

# 

CHAPTER II. 

Naval Events— Cruise of Commodore Rogers— The President 
chases the Belvidera- The Constitution captures the Guer- 
riere— Captain Porter captures the Alert— Cruise of the Presi- 
dent—United States captures the Macedonian— The Wasp 
captures the Frolick— Privateers— Sensations excited in En- 
gland. 

The common observation, that evils do not come alone 
but with others linked in their train, was never more 
completely refuted, than at the period of the misfortunes 
of our arms in the west. The nation^ overspread with 
gloom, in consequence of this unexpected disaster, was 
suddenly consoled in the most pleasing manner. A new 
and glorious era burst upon our country, and upon the 
world. The historian will record with wonder, the sin- 
gidar fact, that the same year which saw prostrated the 
despot of the land, also beheld the pride of the tyrant 
of the ocean completely humbled. A series of the most 
brilliant, and wonderful exploits, on that element, at 
once raised our naval renown, to a height which no other 
had ever attained, and which excited the astonishment 
and admiration of Europe. 

At the moment of the declaration of war, a squadron 
under commodore Rogers, had rendezvoused under the 
orders of the government, otf Sandy Rook, consisting of 
the frigates President, Congress, United States, and the 
brig Hornet. On the 2lst of June they put to sea, in 
pursuit of a British squadron, which had sailed as the 
convoy of tlie West India fleet, the preceding month. 
While thus engaged, the British frigate Belvidera^ was 
discovered, to which they instantly gave chase. The 
chase was continued from early in the morning until past 
four in the afternoon, when tlie President, outsailing the 
other vessels, had come witliin gun shot^ she opened 2t 



[{ISTORY OF THE WAR. 45 

fire with her how guns, intending to cripple the Belvi- 
(Jera, which returned it with her stern chasers. The 
firing was kept up for ten minutes, when one of the guns 
of the President hurst, killed and wounded sixteen men, 
and fractured the leg of the commodore. By this acci- 
dent, and the explosion of the passing box, the decks were 
so much shattered, as to render tiie guns on that side 
useless. The ship was then put about, and a broadside 
fired, but without the desired effect, though considerable 
injury was done the Belvidera. This vessel having thrown 
overboard every thing she could spare, now gained 
ground. The chase was continued until eleven o'clock 
at night, before it was deemed hopeless. The squadron 
then continued in pursuit of the convoy, which it did 
not give over until within sight of the British channel : 
then stood for the Island of Maderia, and thence passing 
the Azores, stood for Newfoundland, and thence by 
Cape Sable, arrived at Boston the SOth of August, having 
made prize of several British vessels ; but owing to the 
haziness of the weather, they were less successful than 
might have been expected. 

The frigate Essex went to sea from New-York, on the 
third of July ; the Constitution sailed from the Chesa- 
peake on the twelfth ; the brigs Nautilus, Viper, and Vix- 
en, were at the same time cruising otf the coast ; the 
sloop of war Wasp was at sea on her return from France. 

The Constitution, captain Hull, had sailed from An- 
napolis on the 5th of July. On the morning of the 17th, 
off Egg Harbour, she was chased by a ship of the line, the 
Africa, and the frigates Shannon, Guerriere, Belvidera, 
and iEolus. These vessels werp approaching rapidij 
with a fine breeze, while it was nearly a calm about the 
Constitution. At sunrise the next morning, escape from 
the enemy was almost hopeless, as thej^' were then within 
five miles. The Constitution was therefore cleared for ac- 
tion, determined to make a desperate resistance. The 
enemy still drawing near, captain Hull resolved to make 
another eiTort to escape. Boats were sent ahead, with 
anchors for the purpose of warping, there prevailing al- 
most a calm. The others finding the Constitittion gaining 



46 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

upon them, resorted to the same expedient. The chase ! 
continued in this manner for two days, partly sailing with 
light breezes, and partly warping, until the 20th, when 
the squadron was left entirely out of sight. This escape 
from so great a disparity of force, was considered as de- 
serving a high rank in naval exploits, and was much ad- 
mired at the time, as evincing superiour nautical skill. 
The advantage to the British in this chase, was consider-i 
able, when we reflect that their foremost vessel had the 
assistance of all the boats of the squadron, for the purpose' 
of towing. The superiority of captain Hull, was that of 
seamanship alone. This superiority was sometimes af-, 
terwards proved in a most remarkable manner : while | 
naval history lasts it will not be forgotten. 

'J'he Constitution again put to sea, on the second of. 
September. On the nineteenth, a vessel hove in sight, 
and a chase instantly commenced. ' It was soon disco- 
vered to be the Guerriere, one of the best frigates in the; 
British navy; and which seemed not averse from the ren- 
contre, as she backed her main topsail, waiting for the 
Constitution to come down. This was a most desirable 
occurrence to our brave tars, as this frigate had for some 
time been in search of an American frigate, having given 
a formal challenge to all our vessels of the same class. 
She had at one of her mast heads a flag, on which her 
Dame was inscribed in large characters, by way of gas- 
conade, and on another, the words, " not the Littie Belt," 
in allusion to the broadsides which the President had 
given that vessel, before the war. The Guerriere had^ 
looked into several of our ports, and affected to be ex- 
ceedingly anxious to earn the first laurel, from the new 
enemy. The Constitution being made ready for action, 
now bore down, her crew giving three cheers. At first 
it was the intention of captain Hull, to bring her to close 
action immediately ; but on coming within gun-shot, she 
gave a broadside and filled away, then wore, giving a' 
broadside on the other tack, but without effect- Theji 
now continued wearing, and manoeuvring, on both sides,' 
for three quarters of an hour, the Guerriere attempting! 
to take a rakiiig position ; but failing in this, she bore up, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 47 

and run with her topsail and jib on the quarter. Tlie 
Constitution perceiving this, made sail to come up with 
her. Captain Hull, with admirable coolness, received 
the enemy's fire , without returning it. The ekemy, mis- 
taking this conduct on the part or' the American comman- 
der, for want of skill, continu'.v to pour out his broad- 
sides with a view to cripple ; > antagonist. From the 
Constitution, not a gun had be fi.ed. Already had an 
officer twice come on deck, wi. information that several 
of the men had been killed ai. '>eir guns. The gallant 
crew, though burning with iniiatience, silently a.vaited 
the orders of their commandf'r. '1 he moment so long 
looked for, at last arrived. Sailing master Aylwin, hav- 
ing seconded the views of the captain, with admircible 
skill, in bringing the vessel exactl;^ to the station intend- 
ed, orders were given at five minutes before five, P. M. to 
fire broadside after broadside, in quick succession. 'The 
crew instantly discovered the whole plan, and entered 
into it, with all the spirit the circumstance was calculated 
to inspire. Never was any firing so dreadful. For fif- 
teen minutes the vivid lightning of the Constitution's guns 
continued one blaze, and their thunder roared with scarce 
an intermission. The enemy's mizen-mast had gone by 
the board, and he stood exposed to a raking fire, which 
swept his decks. The Guerriere had now become un- 
manageable ; her hull, rigging and sails dreadfully torn ; 
when the Constitution attejnpted to lay her on board. 
At this moment lieutenant Bush, in attempting to tluow 
his marines on board, was killed by a musket ball, and 
the enemy shot ahead, but could not be brought before 
the wind. A raking fire now continued for fiiteca mi- 
nutes longer, when his mainmast and foremast Went, 
taking with them every spar, excepting the bowsprit. 
On seeing this, the firing ceased, and at twenty-five 
minutes past five she surrendered. * In thirty minutes," 
says captain. Hull, " after we got fairly along side of tiie 
enemy, she surrendered, and had nut a spar standing, 
and her hull, above and below water^ so shattered, that a 
few more broadsides must have carried her down."' The 
Guerriere was so much damaged, as to render it impossible 



48 HISTORY OF THE 'SVAJi. 

to bring her in ; she was therefore set fire to the next day* 
and blown up. The damage sustained by the Constitu- 
tion, was comparatively of so little consequence, that she 
actually made ready for action, when a ves^iel appeared 
in sight the next day. The loss on board the Guerriere 
was fifteen killed, and sixty-three wounded : on the side 
of the Constitution, seven killed and seven wounded. 
It is pleasing to observe, that even the British commander,; 
on this occasion, bore testimony to the humanity and ge-- 
nerosity, with which he was treated by the victors. The ? 
American frigate was somewhat superiour in force, by a- 
few guns, but this difference bore no comparison to the 
disparity of the conflict. The Guerriere was thought to 
be a match for any vessel of her class, and had been rank-j 
ed amongst the largest in the British navy. The Con-i 
stitution arrived at Boston on the twenty-eighth of Au-> 
gust, having captured several merchant vessels. 

This glorious event, as may well be conceived, .spread? 
the most unbounded joy over the whole country. The^ 
gallant Hull, and his equally gallant ofiicers, were re-' 
ceived with enthusiastick demonstrations of gratitude, 
wherever they appeared. He was presented with the 
freedom of all the cities, through which he passed, on his 
way to the seat of government, and with many valuable 
donations. Congre»s voted fifty thousand dollars to the 
crew, as a recompense for the loss of the prize, and the 
executive promoted several of tlie officers. Sailing mas- 
ter Ayiwin, who had been severely wounded, was pro- 
moted to the rank of lieutenant, and lieutenant Morris, 
who had been also wounded, was promoted to the rank 
of post captain. This allair was not less mortifying to 
Great Britain, who for thirty years, had in no instance 
lost a frigate in any thing like an equal conflict. 

Thepublick mind was now continually excited by some 
new series of naval exploits. There was scarcely time 
for one victory to become familiar, before another was 
announced. On the 7th of September, commodore Por- 
ter of the Essex, entered the Delaware after a most active 
and successful cruise. He had sailed from New- York on 
the tiiird of July, and shortly after fell in with a fleet of 



' HISTORY OF THE WAR. 49 

merchantmen under convoy of a frigate. Having kept 
at a distance until night, she cut oft" a htig, with a hun- 
dred and fifty soldiers on board, which was ransomed 
for 14,000 dollars ; the men were disarmed and released, 
on taking an oath not to serve against us during the 
war. The commodore regretted, in his letter to the 
secretary of the navy, that he had not had with him a 
sloop of war, as in this case he could have engaged the 
frigate, while the convoy were kept employed, and he 
could then have captured the whole fleet, consisting of 
several sail, and having two thousand men on board, in- 
cluding the crew and transports. On the 13th of August, 
the Essex fell in with the Alert sloop of war, and cap- 
tured her, after an action of eight minutes : the Alert had 
mistaken tins frigate for the Hornet, of which she was in 
pursuit, and actually commenced the engagement, by 
running down and pouring a broadside into the Essex. 
When she struck her colours hut three men were wound- 
ed, but she had seven feet of water in her hold. The 
frigate did not suffer the slightest injury. Com. Porter, 
being embarrassed with his prisoners, who exceeded five 
hundred in number, concluded to convert the Alert into 
a cartel, for the purpose of eftet^ting an exchange. Her 
guns were thrown overboard, and she was ordered to 
proceed to St. John's, under the command of a lieutenant 
of the Essex. The British commander at that place pro- 
tested strongly against tlie practice of converting captur- 
ed vessels into cartels, but in this instance was willing, 
in consequence of the attention which commodore Porter 
had uniformly shewn to British prisoners, to consent to 
the proposed exchange. On the afternoon of the 30th of 
August, a British frigate was seen standing towards the 
Essex ; preparation was immediately made for action, 
and she stood towards the enemy. Night intervening, 
the Essex hoisted lights to prevent a separation, which 
were answered. But at daylight, to the mortification of 
the crew, who were anxious to support the cause of 
'*Free trade and sailor's rights," the enemy disappeared. 
On the 4th of September, near St. George'cS banks, two 
ships of war were seen to the southward, and a brig to 
5 



50 HISTORY OF THE WAR. I 

the northward, to which the Essex gave chase, but the 
winds being light, she made her escape. The Essex was 
afterwards chased by the two ships seen to the soutli- 
ward, but escaped in the night by skilful manceuvring. 

On the 8th of October, a squadron, consisting of the 
President, the United States, Congress, and the Argus, 
sailed from Boston on a cruise. On the 13th, the United 
States and Argus, parted from the rest in a gale of wind. 
A few days afterwards, the President and Congress had 
the good fortune to capture the British packet Swallow, 
with 200,000 dollars on board, and on the 30th of Decem- 
ber arrived at Boston, after a very successful cruise. 

The Argus was not less fortunate ; after parting from 
the squadron, she cruised in every direction, between the 
continent and the West-Indies, and after being out nine- 
ty-six days, she returned to New-York, with prizes to 
the amount of two hundred thousand dollars. She made 
various hairbreadth escapes ; atone time she was chased 
by a British squadron for three days, and several times 
almost surrounded; she was one moment within pistol 
shot of a 74, and yet in the midst of all this peril, she ac- 
tually captured and manned one of her prizes. 

The United States, conimanded by that distinguished 
officer commodore Decatur, soon after her separation 
from the s(|uadron, had the good fortune to add another 
victory to our Naval Chronicle, not less glorious than 
that oNhe Constitution. On the 25th of October, off the 
Western Islands, she fell in with the Macedonian, captain 
Carden, a frigate of the largest class, carrying 49 guns 
and 300 men. The Macedonian, being to windward, she 
had it in her power to choose her distance, and at no 
time were they nearer than musket shot ; from this cir- 
CLMttstance, and the prevalence of a heavy sea, the action 
lasted neatly two hours. The superiority of the Ameri- 
can gunnery, in this action, was very remarkable, both for 
its greater rapidity and eftect. From the continued blaze 
of her guns, the United States was, at one moment, 
thought by her antagonist to be on fire ; a mistake of 
very siiDrt duration. On board the Macedonian there 
were 36 killed and 68 wounded. She lost her mainmast. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 51 

ber malntopmast, and main yard, and was much cul up in 
her hull. The United States suffered so little, that a re- 
turn to port was not necessary : she had osily five killed, 
and seven wounded. Amonj^ the killed were lieutenant 
Funk, of whom the commodore spoke in the highest terms. 
Lieutenant x\llen was on this occasion highly applauded. 
The commodore arrived at New-York on the 4th of De- 
cember, with his prize.. Commodore Decatur, flhcady a 
universal favourite, experienced tiie same deinonstra- 
tions of gratitude, as were shown to captain Hull : nor 
was there denied him that new species of praise, which 
the generous conduct of our heroick seamen has uniformly 
drawn forth, the praise of the enemy ; all the private 
property belonging to the men and officers on board the 
Macedonian, was restored to the captured, with the most 
rigid exactitude ; and their treatment u as t!ie most po- 
lite and humane. 

An act of generosity and benevolence on the part of 
our brave tars, of the victorious frigate, deserves to be 
honourably recorded. The carpenter, who was unfortu- 
nately killed in the conflict with the Macedonian, had 
left three small children to the care of a worthless mother. 
When the cncumstance became known to the brave sea- 
men, they instantly made a contribution anionjrst them- 
selves, to the amount of eight hundred dollars, and plac- 
ed it in safe hands, to be appropriated to the education 
and maintenance of the unhappy orphans. Such acts of 
generosity and benevolence, deserve to be rescued from 
oblivion. 

The feelings of the nation had scarcely time to subside, 
when the welcome news of an^ther victory was received ; 
a victory over an enemy most decidedly superiour in 
force, and under circumstances the most favourable to 
him. This was the capture ofthebrigFrolick.of 22guns, 
by the sloop of war Wasp. Captain Jones had returned 
from France^ two weeks after the declarationof vvar, and 
on the 13th of October again put to sea. On the iGth he 
experienced a heavy gale, in which the Wasp lost her jib- 
boom and two men. On the evening of the following day, 
the Wasp found herself near five strange sail, and as two 



52 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ofihem appeared to be ships of war, it was thought proper 
to keep at a distance. At day-light on Sunday morning, 
they were, discovered to be six merchant ships, from Hon- 
duras to England, under a strong convoy of a brig and 
two ships, armed with sixteen guns each The brig, which 
proved to be the Frolick, capt. Whinyates, dropped be- 
hind, while the others made sail. The Wasp, being pre- 
pared foi*action, at 32 m. past 11 o'clock, came down to 
windward in handsome style, when the action was begun 
by the enemy's cannon and musketry. This was return- 
ed, and approaching still nearer the enemy, brought her 
to close action. In five minutes the maintopmast of the 
Wasp was shot away, and falling down with the maintop- 
sail yard across the larboard fore and foretopsail, render- 
ed her head yards unmanageable during the rest of the 
action. In two minutes more her gaft and mizen top- 
gallant mast were shot away. The sea being exceeding- 
ly rough, the muzzles of the Wasp's gune were some- 
times under water. The English fired as their vessel 
rose, so that their shot \' is either thrown away, or touch- 
ed the rigging of the Americans j the Wasp, "on the con- 
trary, fired as she sunk, and every time struck the hull of 
her antagonist. The Wasp now shot ahead, raked her, 
and then resumed her position. The Frolick's fire had 
evidently slackened, and the Wasp, gradually neared her, 
until in the last broadside, they touched her side witk 
their rammers. It was now determined to lay her by the 
board. The jib-boom of the Frolick came in between the 
main and mizen mast rigging of the Wasp, and after giv- 
ing a raking fire, which swept the whole deck, they re- 
solved to board. Lieutenant Biddle sprang on the rig- 
ging of the enemy's bowsprit, where he was at first some- 
what entangled, and midshipman Barker, in his impa- 
tience to be on board, caught hold of Biddle*s coat, and 
fell back on the deck,* but in a moment sprang up and 
leaped on the bowsprit, where he found one Lang and 
another seaman. His surprise can scarcely be imagined, 
w^hen he found no person on deck, except three officers 
and the seaman at the wheel. The deck was slippery 
vi'ith blood, and presented a scene of havock and ruin,» 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ^3 

such as has been seldom witnessed. As he advanced the 
officers threw down their swords in submission. The 
colours were still flying, there being no seaman left to 
pull them down. Lieutenant Biddle leaped into the rig- 
ging, and hauled them down with his own liands. Thus, 
in forty-three minutes, complete possession was taken 
of the Frolick, after one of the most bloody conflicts any 
where recorded in naval history. The condition of this 
unfortunate vessel, was inexpressibly shocking. The 
birth deck was crowded with tliedead, the dying and the 
wounded; and the masts, which soon after fell, covering 
the dead and every thing on deck, leaving her a most 
melancholy wreck. Captain Jones sent on board his 
surgeon, and humanely exerted himself in their relief, to 
the utmost of his power. The loss on board the Frolick 
was thirty killed and fifty wounded ; on board the Wasp 
five killed and five slightly wounded. This was certainly 
the most decisive action fought during the war. The 
Wasp and Frolick were both captured that very day by 
a British 74, the Poictiers, captain Beresford. 

Captain Jones spoke of all his officers and men in hand- 
some terms ; but the noble part which he bore in this 
celebrated combat, was touched upon with all that modes-' 
ty for which our naval heroes liave been so justly admir- 
ed. ^Lieutenant Booth, Mr. Rapp, and midshipmen Grant 
and Baker, were particularly distinguished. Lieutenant 
Claxton, although too unwell to render any assistance, 
crawled out of bed. and came on deck, that he might 
witness the courage of his comrades. A seaman of the 
name of Jack Lang, from Chester county, Pennsylvania, 
a brave fellow, who had been twice impressed by the 
British, behaved, on this occasion, with unusual bravery. 
Captain Jones reached New-York towards the latter end 
of November. The legislatures of Massachusetts. New- 
York, and Delaware, of which state he was a native, 
presented him witii their thanks, and several elegant 
swords and pieces of plate; and the Congress of the 
United States voted him, his officers, and crew, 25,0QO 
dollars, as a recompense for their loss, in not being able 
to bring in the Frolick. He was soon after promoted to 
5* 



54 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the command of the Macedonian, captured bj? commo- 
dore Decatur. 

Feats of naval prowess were not confined to national 
vessels ; the exploits of private armed vessels daily filled 
the gazettes. Letters of marque were issued soon after 
the declaration of war, and privateers sailed from every 
port, to anno}' and distress the enemy's commerce. They 
■were generally constructed for swift sailing, an art in 
which the Americans excel every other people. In their 
contests they exhibited the same superiority over the 
vessels of the enemy, as was shown with respect to the 
ships of war. One of the first to sail, was the Atlas, com- 
manded by captain Moffat. On the third of August he 
fell in with two armed ships, and after a severe action, 
captured them both, but was not able to bring more than 
one of them into port. 

The Dolphin, captain Endicot, of Salem, in the course 
of a few weeks, captured fifteen of the enemy's vessels, 
and for his activity and courage soon became noted. He 
had the misfortune to be captured by a squadron, under 
commodore Broke, and in consequence of the prejudice 
entertained against privateers, and the irritation which 
his exploits had excited, he was treated somewhat rough- 
ly ; tliis conduct, to the honour of the British officers, 
was soon changed, when they were informed, by the^pri- 
soners, of the humanity of his conduct. On one occasion, 
there happened to be on board one of the Dolphin's 
prizes, an old woman, who had her whole fortune on 
boaid, consisting of 800 dollars ; she made a lamentable 
outcry at her misfortune ; but the fact was no sooner 
known to the sailors, than they spontaneously agreed not 
to touch her pittance ; and on arriving in the United 
States, she felt so much gratitude, that she could not re- 
frain from giving publicity to it, in the newspapei^. It 
soon became understood, that American privateers were 
under the same regulations as national vessels, a circum- 
stance in which they differed from those of other nations ; 
that in fact, private cupidity was not the sole motive in 
arming them, but that they constituted apart of our mode 
of carrying on the war, by assailing the enemy in his most 



HISTORY OP THE WAR. 53 

vulnerable part ; and that the gallantry displayed on 
board these vessels, bestowed almost as much honour on 
the actor, as those of a publick character ; there were, 
therefore, the same inducements to correctness of deport- 
ment. It cannot be denied, however, that on some occa- 
sions during the war, the captured privateersmen were 
treated with a degree of harshness, and even cruelty, 
which nothing can justify. 

Early in the war, one ofourokdest and most distin- 
guished naval heroes, but who had,- for many years, led 
a private life, entered this service. Commodore Barney 
sailed from Baltimore in the Rossie, and, in the course of 
a few months, did more havock in the British commerce, 
than was experienced from the French cruisers for 
years. The fame of this gallant officer was already well 
known to the enemy, particularly as the captor of one of 
their vessels of war of superiour force, the Monk, during 
the revolution. 

Such was the glorious beginning of Oc:r naval warfare 
against Great Britain. In the course of a few months, 
two of her finest frigates surrendered, each after a 
few minutes fightiny;; and a most decided victory was 
gained over an adversary confessedly superiour.* Be- 
fore the meeting of Congress, in November, nearly two 
hundred and fifty vessels were captured from the enemy, 
and more than three thousand prisoners taken. Upw rds 
©f fifty of them were armed vessels, and carrying five 
hundred and seventy -five guns. To counterbalance this 
imioense loss, the enemy had but a small account. By the 
cruise of commodore Rodgers, our merchantmen had 
been much aided in getting into port, and the number 
captured was but trilling compared to tiieirs. The Frolick 
and Wasp, we have seen, were captured in a way to 
give no credit to tiie captors. Two other smaller ves- 
sels were also captured by squadrons ; the first, on the 
twentieth of July, the schooner Nautilus, of twelve guns, 
commanded by lieutenant Crane, captured by the frigate 
Shannon, the leading ship of the squadron. The Vixen 
was captured the twenty-second of November, by the 
Northampton frigate, Sir James Yoe. Not long after the 



56 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

capture, both vessels ran ashore, and were wrecked: 
Through the exertions ofcaptain Reed, of the Vixen, much 
of the property was saved from the wreck ; and, in|i 
consequence of his services on the occasion, he was pub-il 
lickly thanked by Sir James., and permission given to! 
him to return home on his parol. This he generously; 
declined, as he could not think of receiving any benefits^' 
in which his officers and crew could not partake. He! 
accordingly accompanied them to Nova Scotia, where hej 
fell a victim to the tlimate. He was interred by the' 
British with the honours of war, accompanied with every' 
demonstration of respect, to the memory of a brave and! 
gallant officer. I 

The navy now became the favourite of the nation ; for' 
thus far, contrasted with oua- armies, it was entitled tO' 
the most decided preference. There were not wanting 
occasions in which our arms by land had acquired repu- 
tation, but they had also brought upon us dishonour : on 
the contrary, the navy, in every instance, had added to 
our national renown. The modesty of our naval com- 
manders, in the narratives of the most brilliant achieve- 
ments, and which were read with delight in every cot- 
tage, and spread over our country by the means of our 
thousand newspaper?, was peculiarly pleasing : whereas 
the proclamations of our generals, were too often filled 
with idle fustion. The British had threatened to drive 
our " bits of striped bunting" from the ocean, and we 
had been seriously apprehensive that our little navy 
would at once be annihilated ! We, however, sought con-' 
solation for this, in the prospect of possessing Canada, 
and freeing ourselves from troublesome neighbours. In 
both instances how greatly disappointed ? Tne dispensa-i 
tions of Providence are better than the wisdom of men. 
The mortificatiuu of Great Britain was attended with no 
alleviation. She was wounded in the most vital part. 
In vain did she seek consolation in endeavouring to hide 
her misfortune from herself, by representing our vessels, 
in every instance, as greatly superiourin size, and having 
every advantage in the various conflicts. This might do 
with respect to orie engagement, but the same cause was 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 67 

insufficient to account for her defeats in every instance. 
T'le American frigates were seventy-fours in disguise, 
and she turned her seventy-fours int© frigates, that she 
might contend on equal terms. But she could not so 
easily account for the wonderful superiority in the ma- 
nagement of the ships, and in gunnery. She set on foot 
committees of investigation ; and the result was, that 
by some unaccountalile neglect, her marine had degene- 
rated, and it was seriously recommended to her Navy 
Board, to put their heroes again to school, that they 
might learn to cope with this nevv, this subtle, and most 
extraordinary enemy. From the idle boast of being the 
SOVEREIGNS OF .THE SEAS, a claim, as vain as that to 
the dominion of the air or the light, and, without whose 
permission not a sail could be spread, they were most 
completely humbled by one of the youngest maritime 
I states; actuated by no ambition of conquest, but merely 
contending for the privilege of navigating an element, de- 
signed by tlie Almighty for the common possession of the 
human race. 



CHAPTER III. 

General Harrison takes command of the North v^estem army-# 
Expedition under general Winchester — General H®pkins — 
Defence of Fort Harrison— Colonel Campbell's Expedition. 

The publick mind having Vecovered from the distress 
and chagrin occasioned by the surrender of Hull, was 
now carried to the contrary extreme. A spirit was rous- 
led, which produced effects not equalled by the most en- 
thusiastick periods of our revolution. To the westward 
and to the southward, volunteer corps were forming in 
every quarter, and tendering their services for any en- 



58 HISTORY OF THE WAR. | 

terprise which might be undertaken. The western parts; 
of Pennsylvania and Virginia exhibited great alacrity :i 
but it was in the states of Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennes-I 
see, that this generous zeal prevailed in the highest de-; 
gree. Civil pursuits were almost forsaken, while this| 
enthusiasm was shared by persons of every sex, andj 
every age. The ladies set themselves to work in prepar^ 
ing military clothing and knapsacks lor their relatives andj 
friends, and cheerfully contributed from their household, 
stock, such articles as their soldiers might require. Com- 
panies were equipped in a single day, and ready to march! 
the next. There prevailed every where, the most anima- 
ted scenes of preparation. The admiration which thisi 
excites, is not lessened by the reflection, that they werel 
but acting in self-defence, for excepting in the remotcj 
settlements, and merely on the frontier, there was butj 
little to apprehend from the Indians : the settlements 
having become so considerable in the western states, that 
it would be impossible for the enemy to penetrate far. 
They were actuated by an enthusiastick love of country, 
a generous spirit, wliich could not brook the thought of 
having been worsted, or that a part of ihe territory of 
the United States, should fall by conquest into the hands 
of our enemy. The military ardour which was now 
awakened, displayed the character of a free people, in the 
most interesting point of view. 

Louisville and Newport had been appointed as the 
places of rendezvous, for the troops destined to the aid 
of Hull. So numerous were the volunteers from Ken-; 
tucky, who offered their services here, that it was soon 
found necessary to issue orders that no more would be 
received, and many companies, thus disappointed, were 
compelled to turn back. The command of the Kentucky 
militia, was assigned to general Payne. The same ala- 
crity was manifested in the state of Ohio, which, in the 
course of a few days, embodied an equal force under gene- 
ral Tupper. The Pennsylvania volunteers, under gene- 
ral Crooks, were marched to Erie, and a brigade of Virgi- 
nians under general Leftvvitch, was to join the troops of 
Ohio, at Urbanna. The Kentucky troops, togetker with 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 59 

the seventeenth U. S. regiment, under colonel Wells, the 
greater part of which had been enlisted in the Western 
country since the war, were destined for fort Wayne, and 
thence for the Rapids, which was appointed as the general 
rendezvous. Thus in a few weeks, upwards of four thou- 
sand cien were drawn out from their homes, completely 
equipped, embodied, and ready for the field. The com- 
mand of this army was given to major general Harrison, 
who was well known to the Western people, and whose 
recent conduct at Tippicanoe had rendered him popular 
as a leader. In order to secure him this rank, he was 
brevetted by the governour of Kentucky, and sometime 
after appointed commander-in-chief of the Northwestern 
army by the president. 

The first step taken by Harrison, was to relieve the 
frontier posts, principally fort Harrison, situated on the 
I Wabash, and fort Wayne, situated on the Miami of the 
Lakes, and on the road to the Rapids. It might be expect- 
!ed that this fort as well as fort Defiance, situated loweu 
jdown, would be attempted by the British, in order to ob- 
Istruct the road to Detroit. Harrison arrived at this 
iplace on the twelfth of September, with about 2500 men. 
The Indians who had laid siege to it, disappeared on 
his approach. It had been invested by a considerable 
body of them, who after repeated attacks, from the sixth 
to the ninth, in which they resorted to every stratagem, 
and several times attempted to take it by assault, were 
compelled to retire, after destroying every thing outside 
the fort. The garrison consisted of no more than seven- 
;ty men. 

i After remaining here a few days, general Harrison, not 

Jthinking it advisable to proceed to the Rapids, until suffi- 

j ciently strengthened by the arrival of the other troops, 

resolved to occupy the intermediate time in laying waste 

the Indian country. Colonel Wells was despatched on 

fcl^e 14th, with his regiment, and that under the command 

of colonel Scott, together with two hundred mounted 

riflemen, against the Puttawatomy town on the river St. 

Joseph, which discharges itself into Lake Michigan. The 

L 3therj under the command of general Payne, consist- 



60 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ing of colonels Lewis and Allen's regiment, and captaiui 
Garrard's company, against the Miami \illages. The; 
detachments were in both instances successful, the barki 
and wooden huts of nine villages were destroye'd, the 
inhabitants having abandoned them ; their corn was also 
cut up, according to the mode of warfare practised on 
these people by all European nations. General Harrison 
returned to fort Wayne about the eighteenth, where he 
found general Winchester, with considerable reinforce- 
ments from Ohio and Kentucky; this officer had been 
originally destined tothe command, and the new arrange-^ 
iiient had not yet been known. General Harrison, there- 
fore, set off for Indiana, but was soon overtaken by ames-i 
senger, with information of his promotion. On the 2Sd 
he accordingly resumed the command. 

The day before his arrival, general Winchester had, 
marched for fort Defiance, on his way to the Rapids, the 
place of ultimate destination. His force consisted of a 
brigade of Kentucky militia, four hundred regulars, andl 
a troop of horse, in all about two thousand men. The 
country whicii he was compelled to traverse, opposed 
great difficulties, particularly in the transportation of 
stores. Along the heads of the rivers which discharge 
themselves info the Ohio, on the south, and those which 
discharge themselves into the lakes on the north, there is 
.an extensive tract of flat land, full of marshes and ponds, 
in which the streams take their rise. In rainy seasons 
particulary, this tract is exceedingly difficult to pass, the 
horses at every step sinking to the knees in mud. The 
ground, besides, is covered with deep forests and close 
thickets. To facilitate the passage through this wilder- 
ness, each man was obliged to carry provisions for six 
days. General Harrison proceeded to Fort St. Mary's, 
for the purpose of transporting supplies by the Aux 
Glaise, a branch of the Miami. The detachment,for this 
purpose, was placed under the command of major Jen- 
nings. 

The American troops proceeded slowly on theimiarch, 
on account of the precautions necessary to avoid surprise 
in a country highly favourable for Indian warfare. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 61 

From the closeness of the thickets, they were under the 
necessity of cutting open a road each day, and were not 
able to make more than six or eight miles. They usually 
encamped at three o'clock, and threw up a breast-work to 
guard against a night attack. They had the precau- 
tion, on their march, to be preceded by a party of spies, 
under an active officer, captain Ballard, and an advanced 
guard of about three hundred men. On the 24th they 
discovered an Indian trail for the first time, and pursued 
it some distance ; but from the nature of the country, it 
was impossible to overtake the enemy. Ensign Legget, 
having obtained permission to penetrate to Fort Defiance, 
still at the distance of twenty -four miles, set out accom- 
panied by four volunteers. These gallant young men, 
not being sufficiently experienced in suchenterprises, 
were killed the same evening, and found the next day 
by the spies, scalped and tomahawked in the most barba- 
rous manner. On the Srth captain Ballard, who had gone 
before for the purpose of burying the dead, discovered an 
Indian trail ; but being aware of the stratagems of these 
wily peoples instead of following it, he divided his com- 
pany, and marched his men on each side. The stratagem 
of the enemy being thus frustrated, they rose from their 
hiding places, raised the war whoop, and took posses- 
sion of an elevated piece of ground ; but were soon com- 
pelled, by the approach of the cavalry, and the well 
directed fire of the spies, to betake themselves to the 
sw:?mps and thickets. The next day, while the army 
was on its march, four Indians fired upon the spies ; the 
general instantly drew up his men, and sent forward a 
detachment <if horse, which returning with an account 
that no enemy could be seen, the line of march was again 
esumed. They had not proceeded far, when a trail was 
discovered, which induced the general to cross the river, 
and shortly after another trail was discovered, but which 
was at first supposed to have marked the marcii of colonel 
Jennings,and was therefore hailed with jo)' by the troops, 
who had began to suffer exceedingly for want of provisions. 
The agreeable mistake was unpleasantly rectified by fhe 
larrivai of the scouts, who brought intelligence that about 

6 



62 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

two miles above Fort Defiance, they had seen the Indi- 
ans encamped, with their war poles erected, and bloody 
flag displayed. 

On the evening of the 29th, a messenger arrived from 
colonel Jennings, with the information, that, on having 
discovered the British and Indians in possession of Fort 
Defiance, he had thought it prudent to land about forty 
miles above that place, where he had erected a block-house 
and awaited further orders. Captain Garard, with about 
thirty of his troopers, was despatched with orders to Jen- 
nings, to forward the provisions ; this was promptly obey- 
ed. Captain Garard returned as the escort to a brigade 
of pack-horses, on which they were loaded, after having 
been for thirty-six hours exposed to an incessant rain. 
This occurrence gave new life and spirits to the starving 
army, which had in the mean time taken possession of 
Fort Defiance. The British and Indians had precipitately 
descended the river. — On the 4th of October, general 
Harrison left the fort and returned to the settlements, 
with a view of organizing, and bringing up the centre and 
right wing of the army ; the left wing having been placed 
under the command of general Winchester. Orders were 
given to general Tupper, by the commander in chief, to 
proceed immediately to the Rapids, with about one thou- 
sand men, for the purpose of driving the enemy from that 
place. 

The intended expedition of general Tupper proved 
abortive. The general, in consequence of the damaged 
state of the ammunition, and the length of time requisite 
to prepare tiie necessary provisions, was considerably de- 
layed. In the mean while the Indians had killed a man 
on the opposite side of the river, and almost within gun 
shot of the camp. He beat to arms, and ordered major 
Brush to cross over with about fifty men, and explore the 
woods, while a strong detachment would be formed for 
the purpose of supporting him, in case of attack. The 
party had no sooner moved, than all in camp began to 
break away, twenty or thirty together, in order to join 
in the chase, and by no exertion of authority could they 
be kept back ; so totally insensible were they to any 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 63 

tiling like regular military subordination. Luckily these 
small bodies were not attacked, or they must have been 
cut to pieces. Immediately after this, orders were given 
by the commanding general, to go in pursuit of the In- 
dians, and if possible ascertain their number; general 
Tupper represented his situation, and requested that the 
order might be countermanded ; but this was answered 
by a peremptory command, which he now attempted to 
obey. This unfortunately resulted in a misunderstand- 
ing between him and the commanding general, in conse^ 
quence of which colonel Allen received private orders to 
supercede him in the command; on this being made 
known to the corps of Ohio, they positively refused to 
march, unanimously set off for Urbanna, and the expedi- 
tion was entirely broken up. 

These are instances of insubordination much to be re- 
gretted ; but they spring from the want of the habit of 
mechanical obedience, and not permitting tlieir comman- 
ders, on occasions like this, to think for them. Such are 
the unavoidable evils attending the militia hastily called 
together, and not kept in a body a sufficient length of 
time, to learn the utility of perfect subordination. They 
do not reflect, that, to a soldier, this is no more inconi- 
patable with the liberty of the citizen, than the whole- 
some restraints of virtue and the laws, are to the man of 
society. 

It was now necessary to wait until the arrival of the 
other divisions of the army, before any thing farther could 
be attempted against the Rapids, and much less against 
Detroit. The aruiy was at this time accompanied by 
some friendly Indians, whom general Harrison had re- 
ceived into his service at Fort Wayne, the greater part 
under the command of Logan. No other course would 
have prevented their becoming our enemies ; it was in 
vain to expect them to remain neutral, while surround- 
ed by war. However contrary to our maxims and policy 
to employ such auxiliaries, we were compelled to do so in 
self defence ; and we afterwards sufliciently evinced, by 
the conduct of those Indians, that it is not impossible to 
restrain them from the commission of acts of barbarity. 



^4 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

General Tupper, having returned to Urbanna, with his 
mounted men, v/avS despatched with the division of the 
centre, which consisted of a brigade of Ohio volunteers 
and militia, and a regiment of regulars, to Fort M^Arthur, 
while the right wing, consisting of a Pennsylvania and a 
Virginia brigade, was ordered to Sandusky. 

On his arrival at Fort M^Arthur, general Tupper or- 
ganized another expedition, composed of about six hun- 
dred men, M'ith a view of proceeding to the Rapids. 
Having provided himself with a supply of provisions for 
iive days, he marched on the tenth, and on the thirteenth 
approached within thirteen miles of the place, which he 
found, by his scouts, to be still in the possession of the 
British and Indians. A number of boats and small ves- 
sels were seen lying below. On receiving this informa- 
tion, he advanced within a few miles of the Rapids, and 
th' n halted until sunset, with a view of crossing the river, 
and making an attack the next morning by day break. 
The rapidity of the current was such, that his attempts 
were inefiectual ; many of the men, who endeavoured to 
cross, were swept down the stream, and it was thought 
advisable to order those, who had actually passed, to re- 
turn. It was now resolved to resort to stratagem, and if 
possible^ to decoy the enemy over. For this purpose, ear- 
ly in the morning, he shewed the heads of his columns, 
by advancing some distance out of the woods, in an open 
space opposite the enemy's camp. A great confusion 
appeared to ensue ; those in the vessel slipped their ca- 
bles, and descended the river, while the Indian women 
were seen scampering offon the road to Detroit. A fire 
was then opened upon the Americans, with musketry 
and a four pounder. Tupper's stratagem did not per- 
fectly succeed ; but few Indians at first seemed disposed 
to cross, and then acted with great caution. A number, 
however, were observed in a little while, crossing higher 
«p the river 5 being now apprehensive that his camp might 
be attacked, the general thought proper to return. He 
had not proceeded far, when some of the men, unfortu- 
nately, contrary to orders, fired on a drove of hogs, and 
pursued them some distance, and uthers, equally disobe-* 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 65 

dient, entered a field to pull corn. At this moment, a 
body of mounted Indians rushed forward, killed four 
men, and attacked the rear of the right flank. The co- 
lumn being thrown back, commenced a brisk fire, and 
caused the Indians to give ground. The Indians rallied, 
and passing along the van-guard, made a charge upon the 
rear of the left column : this column was also thrown 
briskly back ; all attempts to break it were unsuccessful, 
and in twenty minutes, the Indians again retired. Con- 
ceiving this only preliminary to an attack of foot, gene- 
ral Tupper ordered the right column to move up in 
marching order, to prevent the attack from being made 
on the riglit flank. Information was now received, that 
the Indians were crossing in considerable numbers ; on 
this, the general ordered the left column to take up the 
marching order, and proceed to the head of the right co- 
lumn, where a number of Indians had already crossed oa 
horseback, others still in the river, and about two hun- 
dred on the opposite bank. These, a battalion was or- 
dered to dislodge, which completely succeeded in the 
undertaking, many of them being shot from their horses 
in the river. The different charges of the Indians were led 
by the famous chief Split-Log, who rode a fine white horse, 
from which he sometimes fired, at other times alighted, 
and fired from behind a tree. The horses appeared to 
have been much superiour to those which the Int^lians ge- 
nerally ride, and they were well supplied with holsters 
and pistols. The Americans were compelled to return 
in haste, as their provisions were by this time entirely 
exhausted, and they had to march forty miles before they 
could obtain a fresh supply. 

While these things were taking place in the North- 
western army under general Harrison, other events de- 
serving attention, transpired further to the westward, 
under different leaders. We have seen that many of the 
companies equipped for the service of the United States, 
were dismissed, as exceeding the number required, or 
the nu.iiber for which supplies had been provided The 
spirit for volunteering was excited to so high a degree, 
,that the people could not be satisfied, without having an 

6* 



m HISTORY OP THE WAR. 

opportunity of doing something. Vincennes, on the Wa- 
bash, was appointed the place of rendezvous for an ex» 
pedition against the Peoria towns, and others situated 
on the Illinois and Wabash rivers. Nearly four thousand 
men, chiefly mounted riflemen, under the command of 
general Hopkins, collected at this place, and early in 
October proceeded to Fort Harrison. This expedition 
was sanctioned by the venerable Governour Shelby, of 
Kentucky, and was, perhaps, the most formidable in ap- 
pearance that had ever entered the Indian country. 

The army reached Fort Harrison about the tenth, and 
<irv the fourteenth crossed the Wabash, and proceeded on 
its march against the Kickapoo and Peoria towns ; the 
first about eighty miles distant, the others about one hun- 
dred and twenty. Its march lay through open plains cover- 
ed with a luxuriant grass, which in autumn becomes very 
dry and combustible. Murmurs and discontents soon be- 
gan to shew themselves in this unwieldy and ill compact- 
♦»d body, which was kept together by no discipline or au- 
thority. Every one consulted his own will ; in fact, but 
little could be expected from this " press of chivalry'\ 
They had scarcely been four days on their march, when 
they demanded to be led back ; a major, whose name it is 
unnecessary to remember, rode up to the general, and pe- 
remptorily ordered him to return ! An idea had begun to 
prevail, that the guides were ignorant of the country, and 
that the course was the opposite of that which they direct- 
ed. An unlucky occurrence, towards evening, gave the 
finishing blow to this mighty expedition. A gust of wind 
had arisen, while they were encamped, which blew violent- 
ly towards them ; soon after, the grass was discovered 
to be on fire, and the flames approaching with great ve- 
locity. This was supposed to be an Indian attack ; 
it would have been a formidable one, had they notsetfire 
to the grass around their camp, and thus arrested the pro- 
gress of the flames. The next morning a council of ofli- 
cers was called, and the general, seeing the state of the 
army, or more properly of the crowd, proposed to proceed 
against the Indian towns with five Iwindred men, if that 
number would volunteer their servicesj while the re- 



HISTORV OF THE WAR. 67 

mainder mighl: iiturn to Fort Harrison. When the pro- 
posal was made to the men. not one would turn out ; the 
general having entirely lost his popularity. He then re- 
quested to be permitted to direct the operations of that 
single day; this being agreed to, he placed himself at 
their head, and gave orders to march ; but instead of 
following him, they turned round, and pursued a contra- 
ry direction. Finding it useless to attempt any thing 
further with such a body, he followed in its rear to 
Fort Harrison. They saw no Indians during their march ; 
their number must have caused a most formidable ap- 
pearance in the prairie, particularly as they were nearly 
all on horseback. The expedition was by no means use- 
less, as it impressed the enemy with an alarming idea of 
the numbers which we could bring against them. No in- 
ference unfavourable to militia, can be justly drawn from 
this body, or to the individuals who composed it : for it 
was nothing more than a crowd of armed men under no 
command. 

The same officer, sometime in November, led another 
party, with more success, against the towns at the head 
of the Wabash. On the 11th, he again set out from 
Fort Harrison, with about 1200 men ; while at the same 
time, seven boats, under the command of lieutenant colo- 
nel Barber, ascended the river with supplies and provi- 
sions. On the I9th, he reached the Prophet's town^ and 
immediately despatched 300 men, to surprise the Wine- 
bago towns on Ponce Passu creek. The party, under 
colonel Butler, came upon tlie place about day break, 
hut found it evacuated. This village, together With the 
Prophet's town, and a large Kickapoo village, contain- 
ing one luindred and twenty cabins and huts, were des- 
troyed, together with the winter's provision of corn. 
Until the 21st, no Indians weie discovered, when they 
fired on a sinall narty, and killed a man of the name of 
Dunn, a gallant soldier of Duvall's company. The next 
day, about sixty horsemen, under colonels Miller and 
Wilcox, being sent out to bury the dead, they were 
suddenly attacked by a considerable party of Indians 5 
and, in the skirmish which ensued, eighteen of our men 



68 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

were killed, wounded and missing. Tl|f|lrincipal camp 
of the Indians having been discovered, preparations were 
made to attack it, but on approaching it, the enemy was 
found to have gone off. Their situation was remark- 
ably strong, being on a high bank of the Ponce Pas- 
su, and no means of ascending but through some nar- 
row ravines. The inclement season advancing rapidly, 
it was deemed prudent to think of returning, particular- 
ly as the ice in the river began to obstruct the passage. 
The success and good conduct of this detachment forms 
a remarkable contrast with the first, and proves that 
militia, after having been sometime embodied, becomes 
as good troops as any other. This corps suffered exceed- 
ingly, and without a murmur ; many of them were sick, 
and to use the words of the general, many were " shoe- 
less and shirtless," during the cold weather of this sea- 
son. These repeated incursions would doubtless strike 
terrour into the enemy, and operate powerfully upon the 
only sense to which we could appeal. 

We have passed over, without noticing, but with the 
intention of recording in a more distinguished manner, 
the admirable defence of Fort Harrison, which was time- 
ly relieved by general Hopkins, on his first expedition. 
This fort was invested about the same time with fort 
Wayne, by a large body of Indians, some of whom had 
affected to be friendly, and had, the day before, intimat- 
ed to captain Taylor, that an attack might soon be ex- 
pected from the Prophet's party. On the evening of the 
third of September, two young men were killed near the 
Fort, and the next day, a party of thirty or forty In- 
dians, from the Prophet's town, appeared with a white 
flag, under pretence of obtaining provisions. Capt. Tay- 
lor, suspecting an attack that night, examined the arms 
of his men, and furnished them with cartridges. The 
garrison was composed of no more than eighteen effec- 
tive men, the commander and the greater part of his 
company having suffered very much from sickness. For 
sometime past, the Fort had actually been considered in- 
capable of resisting an attack. About eleven o'clock, 
the night being very dark, the Indians had set fire to one 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 69 

of the block houses unperceived. Every effort was made 
to extinguish the flames, but without effect ; a quantity 
of whiskey, amongst other stores, belonging to the con- 
tractor, deposited there, blazed up, and immediately en- 
veloped the whole in a flame. The situation of the Fort 
became desperate ; the yells of the Indians, the shrieks 
of a number of women and children within, added to the 
horrours of the night, altogether produced a terrifick 
scene. Two soldiers, giving themselves up for lost, 
leaped over the pickets, and one of them was instantly 
cut to piece;-. The commander, witli great presence of 
mind, ordered the roofs to be taken off the adjoining bar- 
racks ; this atteinpt, with the assistance of Dr. Clark, 
fortunately proved successful, although made under a 
! shower of bullets. A breast work was then formed, be- 
I fore morning, six or eight feet high, so as to cover the 
I space which would be left by the burnt block house. The 
firing continued until day -light, when the Indians retired, 
j after suffering a severe loss ; that of the Fort was only 
! three killed, and a few wounded. The Indians, dis- 
couraged by the failure of this attack, thought proper to 
retire, and made no further attempts, until the place 
was happily relieved by the arrival of general Hopkins. 
In consequence of his conduct, captain Taylor was af- 
terwards promoted to a majority. 

Another expedition was undertaken by colonel Rus- 
sell, with three companies oi United States rangers, and 
a party of mounted riflemen, under governour Edwards, 
of Illinois. This party, consisting of three hundred and 
sixty men, was destined to meet general Hopkins at the 
Peoria towns, on the Illinois river. They were disap- 
pointed in this, in consequence of what has been already 
detaile'd; but they, notwithstanding, persevered in their 
enterprize, and destroyed one of the towns known by 
the name of Pamitaris's town, and pursued the Indians 
into a swamp in its vicinity, where they had fled for shel- 
ter. The party waded into the swamp for several miles, 
in some places to the waist in water, and killed upwards 
of twenty of the enemy in this place, and on the bank of 
the river. The village, which was populous and flour- 



70 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ishing, was completely destroyed, together with their 
winter's provisions. The party returned to camp on the 
thirty -first of October, after an absence of only thirteen 
days. 

Lieutenant-colonel Campbell, of the 19th U. S. infan 
try, was, about the same time, detached against the towns 
on the Mississinewa river, a branch of the Wabash. A 
town, inhabited by Dclawares and Miamis, was surprised 
on the senventeenth of November ; upwards of thirty! 
persons were taken prisoners, and eight warriours killed^ 
The next morning, at day-light, a furious attack was 
made on the American camp ; major Ball, with his dra-' 
goons, sustained the onset for some time ; but a well di- 
rected fire from captain Butler's '' Pittsburgh volunteers," 
compelled the enemy to give way. Captain Trotter, of 
the Lexington troop of horse, charged, and the Indians 
precipitately fled. Captain Pearce, of the Zansville troop, 
was, unfortunately, killed in the pursuit. Lieutenant 
Waltz, of the Pennsylvania volunteers, was also killed.: 
The officers particularly named on the occasion were 
lieutenant colonel Simmeral, major M*Dowell, captains 
Markle, M'Clelland, Gerrard and Hopkins. The loss 
in killed on the part of the assailants, amounted to forty, 
and on our part to eight killed and about thirty wound 
ed. Several of their villages were afterwards destroyed. 

Besides these affairs, there were a number of less mo- 
ment, in which the militia of Indiana, Illinois, and Mis- 
souri territories, greatly distinguished themselves. The 
Indians were so much harassed, that they began serious- 
ly to repent of having taken up the war-club so hastily 
and their sufferings, during the succeeding winter, were 
not likely to produce any change of feeling towards those 
who had thus urged them to encounter their owA ruin. 
The security of the frontier from the murderous scalping 
knife of the savage, was thus, in a great measure effect- 
ed. The Indians would be compelled to remove to the 
distant British establishments for sustenance, during the 
winter, since their means of subsistence were cut off. 
As to the loss of their huts or wigwams, that was a mat- 
ter of little consequence to them 5 a few days being suffi- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 71 

cient to re-construct them. But by their being thus dri- 
ven to a distance, with their wives and children, they 
were prevented from annoying the settlers, wit)» their 
fiend -like warfare. Many a peaceful settler was saved 
from their midnight attacks ; and " the slumbers of the 
cradle" were protected from the savage war-hoop. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Troops on the Canada frontier— Capture of the Caledonia — Bat- 
tle of Queenstown, and the death of Gen. Brock— Bombard- 
ment of Niagara — Abortive attempt of Gen. Smyth — Northern 
Army — First Cruise of Commodore Chauncey; 

It is now time to turn our attention to the Northern 
frontier, that we may take a view of the occurrences on 
that extensive line, from Niagara dov/n the St. Lawrence. 
Towards the close of the year, our forces had chiefly 
concentrated in two bodies ; one near Lewistown, con- 
sisting of some regulars newly enlisted, and miliiia, a- 
mounting to four thousand men, under general Van 
Rensselaer, of New-York ; the other, in the neighbour- 
hood of Plattsburg and Greenbush, under the commander 
in chief, general Dearborne. At Black Rock, at Ogdens- 
burg, and Sackett's Harbour, some regulars and militia 
were also stationed. During the summer and autumn, 
a number of volunteer companies had marched to the 
borders, as also the new recruits, as fast as they could be 
enlisted. Bodies of regulars were distributed in each of 
these places, with officers of experience, for the purpose 
of drilling the raw troops as they arrived. It was ex- 
pected that before the month of October every thing 
would be made ready for a formidable invasion of Cana- 
da. Considerable disappointment was, however, expe- 
rienced, in consequence of the refusal of the governoups 
of Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, and Connecticut, to 
permit the militia of those states to march under the re- 
quisition of the President, on the gronnd of their being 



7^ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the proper judges, under the constitation, of the exigen- 
cy which might require them ; anri as they were not 
friendly to the war, and particularly so to rendering it 
offensive, they felt no disposition to wave their privileges. 
Other constitutional objections were also ur^ed, which it 
is scarcely necessary to mention. As the militia in those 
states was better disciplined, and more effective, than 
any in the Union, their absence was severely felt. It is 
highly probable, that had theFe been a full co-operation 
on the part of these states, with the views of the general 
government, that Upper Canada, at least, would have 
fallen into our hands, in the course of the first campaign. 
Military stores had been collected at different points, 
and general Dearborne, who had been appointed in con- 
sequence of his experience in the revolutionary war, was 
actively engaged, with the assistance of such officers as 
Pike, Boyd and Scott, in drilling, disciplining, and or- 
ganizing his army. -General Smyth, who was consider- 
ed an able tactitian, was similarly engaged. Between 
eight and ten thousand men were collected along this 
extensive line, and it was hoped that something might 
still be done. Skilful officers of the navy were also des- 
patched, for the purpose of arming vessels on lake Erie, 
Ontaria, and Champlain, in order if possible to gain the 
ascendency there, and to aid the operations of our forces. 
The army under the command of Van Rensselaer, was 
called the army of the Centre, to distinguish it from that 
of Harrison. That under the immediate command of 
general Dearborne, the army of the North. 

About the beginning of October, an action was achiev- 
ed by lieutenant Elliot, who had arrived on lake Erie, 
for the purpose of superintending the naval equipments, 
which roused the attention of the army of the centre, and 
excited a general emulation to do something worthy of 
notice. On the morning of the eighth, the British brig 
Detroit, formerly the Adams, surrendered by Hull, and 
the brig Caledonia, came down from Maiden, and an- 
chored under the guns of fort Erie, nearly opposite Black 
Rock ; Elliot conceived the idea of attacking them, and 
sent an express to hasten the seamen, then ou the way, 



IlISTOHY OF THE WAR. 73 

anil who, about fifty in number, arrived in the eveninjTj, 
wearied with a march of five hundred miles. Allowing 
them until twelve at night for re()Ose, he then embarked 
in boats with about fifty volunteers, who joined him, and, 
crossing the river, slipped down to the brigs ; in an in- 
stant he was on board, and drove the British below. In 
ten minutes afterwards, he was under weigh. But the 
wind not being sufficiently strong to bear them against 
the current, they were both run aground ; the CaFedo- 
nian, so as to be protected by the batteries of Black 
Rock ; but the Detroit, after being; bravely defended, un- 
til a considerable part of the military stores on board 
were secured, was set on fire and destroyed. The Cale- 
donian was laden with furs to the amount of 150,000 dol- 
lars. This was effected with the loss of only two killed, 
and four wounded. 

This affair, having kindled the ardour of the Americans 
of the army of the centre, they demanded to be led to tl e 
invasion of Canada, and some of the volunteers thrcater,- 
ed to return home, unless their wishes were complied 
with. But this was not the ardour of veterans, well ac- 
quainted with the dangers to be encountered, and des- 
pising them J it was the inconsiderate rashness of inexpe- 
rienced men, ready to anticipate the proper moment, 
but not possesing the firmness to persevere when sur- 
rounded by unaccustomed terrours. After a conference 
with generals Smyth and Hall, general Van Rensselaer 
resolved to make an attack on the heights ofQueenstown. 
From the information he could collect, the enemy's force 
had been chiefly drawn off for the defence of Maiden, as 
it was supposed, under the command of general Brock, 
who had left the territory of Michigan under the govern- 
ment of general Proctor, until he could organize a force 
to return. Could this place be possessed by our troops, 
they would be sheltered from the approaching inclemen- 
cy of the season, and the operations of the Western army 
much facilitated. Accordingly, at four in the morning 
©f the 11th, in the midst of a dreadful northeast storm, 
and heavy rain, an attempt was made to pass the river 5 



74 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

but owin^ to the darkness of the night, and various un- 
forseen accidents, the passage could not be ettected. 

This failure but served to increase the impatience of 
the troops, who became almost ungovernable. Orders 
were despatched to general Smyth, to advance with his 
corps, as anotlier attempt would. be made on Queenstown. 
Every arrangement was rapidly made, and early on the 
morninii;oF the thirteenth, the troops embarked, under 
the Cover of the American batteries. The force desig- 
nated to storm the heights, was divided into two columns; 
one of three hundred militia, under colonel Van Rensse- 
laer, the other of three hundred regulars, under colonel 
Christie. These were to be followed by colonel Fen- 
wick's artillery, and then the other troops in order. The 
British, in the meanwhile, anticipating this attack, had 
obtained considerable reinforcements from Fort George, 
Hud if necessary, could be still further assisted by general 
Lrock, who, it now appeared, commanded at that place. 
At daylight, as soon as the approach of the Americans 
could be discovered, a shower of musketry and grape 
opened from the whole line on the Canada shore, and was 
returned by our batteries, with the addition of two sixes, 
which, after an extraordinary effort, lieutenant colonel 
fecott had brought to their assistance from the Falls of 
Niagara. The tire of the enemy, and the eddies in the 
river, produced considerable embarrassment, in conse- 
quence of which, lieutenant colonel Christie, who was 
wounded by a grape shot in the hand, and colonel Mula- 
Tiey, fell below the intended point, and were obliged to 
return. Colonel Van Rensselaer, who commanded the 
whole, and who led the van, reached the shore, with only- 
one hundred men, in the midst of a most galling fire. 
Ke had scarcely leaped on land, when he received four 
severe wounds, which retarded the onset. This gallant 
ofiicer, being still able to stand, though suffering the most 
excruciating pain, ordered his men to move rapidly up 
the heiglits. (>aptain Ogilvie assumed the command, 
seconded by captain Wool, who was also wounded, and 
followed by lieutenants Kearney, Carr, Higginan, Som- 
lacns, and ensign Reeve of the thirteenth. Lieutenants 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 75 

Ganscvoort and Randolph, ascended the rocks to tlie 
right of the fort, ^ave three cheers, and after several des- 
perate charges, at the head of a handful of men, carried 
the heio;hts, and drove the enemy down the hill in every 
direction. The enemy retreated hehind a large stone 
house, and kept up their fire ; but their batteries, with 
the exception of one gun, were silenced. The detacii- 
ment under colonel Christie, on his secontl attempt, now 
landed. Considerable reinforcements soon afterarrived, 
under captains Gibson, M'Ciiesney, and Lawrence ; and 
colonels Mead,Strahan, Allen, and other niiiitia officers. 
About this time general Brock arrived in perscm, vvitli 
the forty-ninth regiment, six huinlred stron;:;. Perceiv- 
ing him approaching to the rear of the battery, captain 
Wool, who commanded at this point, ordered a det;icli- 
ment of about one hundred and sixty men to charge. 
The detachment was driven back, but being reinforced, 
ciiarged a second time. Kncountering a great superiori- 
ty of numbers, they were again repulsed, and on the 
point of being driven to the very verge of the precipice, 
when the officer, considering the situation hopeless, plac- 
ed a white handkerchief on the point of a bayonet, in 
token of submission, which was instantly torn aw ay by 
captain V/ool, who ordered the men to stand ti^eir 
ground. At this instant, colonel Christie advanced with 
a reinforcement, which increased the number of the de- 
tachment to three hundred and twenty. This officer 
Fiovv led on a desperate charge, and completely succeed- 
ed in putting to liight a regiment twice his numbers, and 
bearing the name of invincibles. General Brock, exas- 
perated at this conduct, endeavoured to rally them, when 
he received three bails, which terminated his existence ; 
his aid, captain M'Donald, at the same instant falling by 
his side^ mortally wounded. At two o'clock, general 
Wadsworth of the militia, and colonels Scott and Mula- 
ney crossed over. Captain Wool having been ordered 
to retire to have his wounds dressed, again returned to 
the action. The forty-ninth being repulsed, and the 
British commander having fallen, the victory was thought 
to be complete, and general Van Rensselear crossed over. 



76 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

for the purpose of immediately fortifying a camp, to pre- 
pare against future attacks, should the enemy be rein- 
forced. This duty he assigned to lieutenant Totten, an 
able engineer. 

The fortune of the day was not yet decided. At three 
o'clock the enemy having rallied, and being reinforced 
by several hundred Chippewa Indians, again advanced 
to the attack. At first, our men were disposed to faulter, 
hut being aninjated by such leaders as colonel Christie 
and colonel Scott, marched boldly to the charge., and at 
the point of tlie bayonet, once more compelled the British, 
wlio were now the assailants, to retire. This was the 
third victory gained since morning, and had the cotitest 
ended here, it would have been one of the most glorious 
for our country. General Van Rensselaer perceiving that 
the men on the opposite side embarked but slowly, and 
fearing another conllict, re-crossed for the purposeof ex- 
pediting their departure. But v,hat was his astonish- 
ment, on reacliing the American side, when he found that 
they positively refused to embark ! More than twelve 
hundred men under arms, were drawn up on the bank, 
where they remained as idle spectators of the scene, and 
neither commands nor entreaties could prevail on them 
to move. They refused to do so on the ground of con- 
stitutional privilege ; the same men, who a few days be- 
fore had expressed so much impatience, that their ardour 
was restrained. It seems that this boiling ardour had 
already been cooled, by what they had witnessed on the 
opposite shore. 

At four o'clock, the British being reinforced by eight 
hundred men from Fort George, renewed the engagement 
with fresh vigour. General Van Rensselaer, perceiving 
that our men were now almost exhausted with fatigue, 
their ammunition nearly spent, was compelled, under 
the most painful sensations, to address a note to general 
Wadsworth, communicating the unexpected circum- 
stance, and giving him permission to consult his own 
judgment, and at the same time despatched a number of 
boats, that in case it should be so resolved, he might re- 
turn with his troops to the American side. A desperate 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 77 

contest soon followed, which was kept up for half an hour, 
by a continued discharge of musketry and artillery, when 
our troops were gradually overpowered by numbers, their 
strength rapidly declined, and their hopes were subdued 
by the information they had by this time received. The 
militia attempted to re-embark, but in this they were frus- 
trated. It being impossible to hold out any longer, and 
more overcome by the apathy of their countrymen, who 
stood looking coldly on, than by the strength of their foes, 
they at length surrendered themselves prisoners of war. 
During the greater part of the engagement with the last 
reinforcement, the regulars, not more than two hundred 
and fifty in number, bore the brunt of the action entirely 
alone. The prisoners were generally treated well by 
the British, but they imposed no restraint on their allies, 
who proceeded immediately to the work of stripping and 
scalping the slain, and even many of the wounded. 
Amongst other indignities which these wretches were not 
restrained from committing, were those offered to the 
body of ensign Morris, brother to our naval hero. C(m- 
trasted with this, it is worthy of being mentioned, tliat 
the guns of the American fort were fired during the fu- 
neral ceremony of general Biock, a brave and gener- 
ous enemy. Even savages, had they chosen to inquire 
the meaning of this, ought to have learned a lesson of 
humanity, their civilized allies could not teach. 

Every ofiicer who crossed the river, it is said, distin- 
guished himself. Colonel Scott, afterwards so justly cele- 
brated, continued th^ greater part of the day in the hot- 
test of the fight, and although dressed in uniform, and of 
a tall and elegant stature, did not receive tlie slightest 
wound. Several Indians afterwards declared that they 
had taken deliberate aim at him. A volunteer company 
of ritiemen under lieutenant Smith, who took prisoner an 
Indian Chief, when the enemy rallied a second time, vras 
much distinguished. Lieutenant colonel Fen wick was 
severely wounded, but never left the ground during the 
action. Captains Gibson, Wool, and M'Chesney, were 
highly complimented by the general. The loss of the 
British and Indians is not exactly known 5 ours uiust 



re HISTORY OP THE WAR. 

have been at least one thousand in killed, wounded and 
prisoners. The greater part of the prisoners were taken 
to Montreal. 

During the embarkation of the troops at Lewistown, a 
tire was opened from Fort George on the American Fort 
Niagara, which was returned and kept up during the day 
on both sides. The battery commanded by captain 
M'Keon, which was managed with ability, set fire to se- 
V eral houses near the British fort, A twelve pounder hap- 
pened to burst, and at the same time the opposite garri- 
son beginning to throw shells, captain Leonard thought it 
prudent to leave the fort ; but soon after, perceiving the 
British about to cross, he returned with a guard of twenty 
men, and kept possession during the riight. The next 
evening he was joined by the remainder of the garrison. 
Three days afterwards the British batteries below fort 
Erie, opened a fire on the camp at Black Rock. One of 
the barracks was destiqyed by a shell, which blew up the 
magazine, but no lives were lost. 

The garrison of Niagara,-having been considerably re- 
•nforc^cl, was again attacked on the twenty-first, from the 
batteries of Fort George. These places are situated 
nearly opposite each other, and at the entrance of the 
>aagara. The cannonading continued from sun rise 
until dark, the enemj throwing upwards of three thou- 
sand red hot shot, and upwards of two hundred shells 5 
several of the barracks and adjoining buildings were 
lired, but, through the indefatigable exeitions of major 
Armistead, of the United States artillery, tlie fire was 
repeatedly extinguished. Colonel iVi'Feeley, who com- 
manded the fort, ordered the different batteries to open, 
and the enemy's fire wa« returned with interest. Seve- 
ral houses in Newark, and about the fort, were burnt ; a 
srohooi^er lying under its guns was sunk, and one oftheir 
batteries l"or a time completely silenced. Captain 
M^Keon commanded in the south-east block house, and 
captain Jack, of the miiitia artillery, in the north-east, 
the situation most exposed. The different batteries 
were commanded by lieutenants Rees and Kendal, both 
of which were very destructive. Lieutenant Gan&evoort 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 7^ 

commanded the Salt battery ; Doctor CoopeT,of the mili- 
tia had the command of a six-pounder. Lieutenant 
Reese having been wounded, Uis place was taken by cap- 
tain Leonard, during the remainder of the day. During 
this severe bombardment, we had only four killed, and a 
small number wounded, among whom was lieutenant 
Thomas. Colonel M'Feeley spoke in high terms of 
colonel Gray, major Armistead, captain Mulligan, and 
all the other officers and men. Such was their ardour, 
that having expended their wadding, the officers tore oft' 
their shirts and the soldiers their pantaloons, to be used 
for that purpose. An extraordinary instance of female 
bravery occurred on this occasion. The wife of a common 
soldier, of the name of Doyle, taken prisoner at Queens- 
town, and carried to Montreal, determined to revenge 
the treatment of her husband, volunteered her services, 
and obtained permission to assist at one of the batteries, 
where she continued to serve hot shot until the last gun 
was fired, although the enemy's shells continually fell 
around her, and every moment threatened destruction. 

Shortly after the unfortunate battle of Queeostown, 
General Van Rensselaer resigned the command, which 
devolved on brigadier general Smyth, of the United 
States army. General Smyth announced his determina- 
tion of retrieving the honour of the American arms, by 
another attempt on the British batteries and entrench- 
ments on the opposite side. He conceived that the for- 
mer attack had not been conducted with judgment, in 
the selection of the point of debarkation, directly in the 
face of their batteries, whereas it ought to have been be- 
tween fort Erie and Chippewa. This he had at first re- 
commended to general Van Rensselaer* and to the ne- 
glect of his intimation he attributed tiie failure of the 
former attempt. Having now the sole command, and be- 
ing at liberty to carry into execution his own plan, he set 
about preparing a force'fcfr the purpose ; that which he 
then had under his command being insufficient. As the 
most eftectual mode to accomplish this, he issued a procla- 
mation appealing to thepublick feeling and patriotism of 
tlie American people, and inviting volunteers from every 



80 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

part of the country. Every topick which could influence 
the hearts and minds of the people, was strongly urged i 
they were reminded of the exploits of their ancestors of; 
the revolution ; of the little honour which had thus far at-' 
tended the prosecution of the war ; the recent failure, and 
the disgraceful surrender of Hull. They were told that 
even the Indians of the friendly six nations had offered 
their services, but that, through regard to the cause of 
humanity, he had refused to follow a disgraceful examplcj 
by letting loose these barbarous warriours upon the in- 
habitants of Canada. He then addressed himself particu-i 
Jarly to the '' Men of New-York," appealing to their pa- 
triotism, calling on them to retrieve the late disaster, 
and at the same time, by this step, secure their wives 
and children from the predatory and murderous incur- 
sions of the savage. This address was well calculated 
to reach the feelings of the moment, although eccentiickin 
its style, and in some respects reprehensible, particularly 
in the reflections indulged at the expense of others. 
Moreover, it was not dictated by prudence as respected 
himself; for in case of a possible failure, he would na- 
turally be exposed to ridicule, for what would then turn 
out a pompous and inflated rhodomontade. It was, how- 
ever, not without some eftect, particularly when seconded 
by an animated proclamation from general Porter, of the 
New-York militia. About the 27th of November, up- 
wards of four thousand five hundred men, consisting of 
regulars, and the volunteers from Pennsylvania, New 
York and Baltimore, were collected at Buffaloe ; and the 
officers were actively engaged in drilling, equipp\ng,'and 
organizing them for the intended enterprise. 

Seventy boats, and a number of scows, were prepar 
ed for the reception of the army, that they might be at 
once transported to the Canadian shore ; but preparato- 
ry to the principal attack, two detachments, one un- 
der colonel Boerstler, and another under captain King, 
received orders W pass over before day ; the first to des- 
troy a bridge, about five miles below Fort Eriv?, and cap- 
ture the guard stationed there ; the other to storm the 
British batteries* Before they reached the opposite shore, 



_-. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 81 

i'he enemy opened a heavy fire ; the first detachment 
landed and took some prisoners, but failed in destroying 
the bridge. The otiier, under captain King, landed 
liigher up at the Red House, drove the enemy, and then 
advanced to their batteries, which they stormed, and 
then spiked the cannon. Lieutenant Angus, with a 
number of marines, accidentally separated from cap- 
tain King, and no reinforcements arriving from the op- 
posite side, they concluded that King and his party had 
been taken prisoners, and therefore returned. The par- 
ty of King, now consisting of seventeen, besides cap- 
tains Morgan and Sprowl, and five other officers, was 
in full possession of the works, while the enemy was 
completely di«5persed. Finding, at length, that they 
could not expect to be supported, they resolved to re- 
turn ; bat one boat could be found to transport them all ; 
captains Sprowl and Morgan passed over with the pri- 
soners, leaving captain King, who was soon after, with 
his smalt party, surrounded and taken prisoner. On 
the return of captain f^prowl, coionei Vv inner was or- 
dered to pass over with about three hundred men. He 
instantly embarked, and led the van. IXis own boat was 
the only orua which touched the opposite shore, the 
others having been swept down by the swiftness of the 
current. 

From various causes the embarkation of the main body 
was reta^-ded much beyond the appointed time, so that 
at twelve o'clock in the day, about two thousand men 
were at last ready to move. " General Tannehill's volun- 
teers, and colonel M'Clure's regiment, were drawn up 
ready for a second embarkation. The enemy by this 
time had collected on the opposite shore, and appeared 
ready to receive them. The departure of our troops was, 
in the most unaccountable manner, delayed until late in 
the afternoon, when orders were given to debark. Much 
murmuring and discontei:-;" ensued ; which were in some 
measure silenced, by assurances that another attempt 
would be made. It was now resolved to land about five 
miles below the navy yard ; and accordingly, on Monday 
evening, the thirty -ninth, all the boats were collected for 



82 HISTORY OF THE WAR. I 

the purpose. The whole body, with the exception of 
about two hundred men, were embarked at four o'clock ; 
the men conducting themselves with great order and 
obedience, and affording every hope of success. No- 
thing was wanting but the word to move; when, after 
some delay, orders were suddenly given for the whole 
to land, accompanied with a declaration, that the inva- 
sion of Canada was given over for tliat season, while 
arrangements were made to go into winter quarters. 
One universal expression of indignation burst forth ; the 
greater part of the militia threw down their arms, and 
returned to their homes, and those who remained contin- 
ually threatened the life of the general. Severe recrimi- 
nations passed between him and general Porter, who ac- 
cused him of cowardice and of unofficer-like deportment. 
General Smj^th, in vindication of his conduct, alleged that 
he had positive instructions not to risk an invasion v/ith 
less than 3000 men, and that the number embarked did 
not exceed iifteen hundred. Be this as it may, great 
dissatisfacti^.x was excited througlithe country, and his 
military reputation, from that time, rapidly declined in 
publick estimation. This affair had certainly an unfa- 
vourable aspect, and was not only prejudicial to our af- 
fairs in general, biit exceedingly discouraging to the na- 
tion. Throughout the whole of this year, we were con- 
tinually suffering the effects of our total want of experi- 
ence in war. Everj thing seemed to baffie our calcula- 
tions, and to disappoint our hopes, particularly in ouc 
movements against Canada, although many acts of gal- 
lantry were performed both by regulars and militia. 

It is now time to turn our attention to the northern 
army, collecting on the borders of the St. Lawrence. 
But little was done in this quarter, until late in the au- 
tumn. At the declaration of war, but a small number of 
troops were stationed at any point along this frontier : 
and it would necessarily require a considerable length of 
time before the militia could be embodied and marched, 
or the regular troops, newly enlisted or already on foot, 
could be collected from over an immense surface of coun- 
try such as ours. It was confidently calculated, that the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 83 

upper provinces of Canada would fall an easy conquest 
to our troops of the northwestern army, and of the army 
of the centre, which might then move down, and join 
those on the St. Lawrence, and, long before the winter, 
the war would be carried to Montreal. But the unex- 
pected and lamentable surrender of Hull, produced a to- 
tal change in the situation of aftairs. It was not until 
late in the autumn, that anything worthy of note occur- 
red in the northern army. 

On the 15th of September, twenty-five barges of the 
British passed up the St. Lawrence, and were attacked 
by a party of militia from Ogdensburg, and after a severe 
contest, the enemy was forced to abandon their boats, and 
fly for shelter to the woods; but soon after, receiving rein 
forcements, they compelled the militia to retire. Some- 
time after this, captain Forsyth made an incursion into 
the enemy's country, with a party of his riflemen, and af- 
ter twice defeating a body of regulars of superiour num- 
bers, burnt a block-house, containing the publick stores, 
and returned with the loss of only one man. In revenge 
for that attack, the British, on the second of October, de- 
termined to attempt the destruction of Ogdensburg. A 
heavy fire was opened from the breast works, at the vil- 
lage of Prescott, situated nearly opposite. On the fourth, 
they attempted to cross the St. Lawrence, and storm the 
town, and embarked in forty boats, with about fifteen 
men in each ; but they were warmly received by general 
Brown, of the New-York militia, who commanded Isere 

person. A sharp action continued for nearly two 
hours, when they were compelled to abandon their de- 
sign, leaving one of the boats in our hands, and suflering 
a considerable loss. 

Colonel Pike, to whose zeal and indefatigable exer- 
tions, the army was even at this time much indebted, 
on the nineteenth passed into the enemy's territory, 
surprised a blockhouse defended by a considerable body 
of English and Indians, put them to flight, and destroyed 
the publick stores. Skirmishes like these were not un- 
frequent, until the close of autumn, and even ocourred 
iwring the winter ; but nothing of moment transpired in 
Ihis quarter, until the beginning of the year. 



84 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

A new scene of warfare was abou t to open, upon those 
vast inland seas, which constitute so remarkable a fea- 
ture of our continent. For the first time, their waves were 
to be lighted up with all the sublimity of naval combat : 
and they soon bore witness to achievements as glorious 
as those which immortalized our heroes on the ocean. 
In consequence of the failure of our arms at Detroit, it 
became necessary to form a navy on the lakes. We 
were now without a single armed vessel on Lake Erie, 
and our whole force on lake Ontario was the brig Oneida, 
16 guns, commanded by lieutenant Woolsey. In Octo- 
ber, commodore Chauncey, with a body of seamen, ar- 
rived at Sackett's Harbour, for the purpose of carrying 
this design into effect ; he instantly purchased every 
trader capable of being fitted up as a vessel of war, and 
ordered lieutenant Elliot, as we have seen, to organize a 
Jiaval force on Lake Erie. That his preparations pro-i 
ceeded with rapidity, cannot be doubted, when we find, 
that on the sixth of November he considered himself able 
to contend with the enemy's whole force. Having re- 
ceived information that the enemy's fleet had sailed down 
the Lake, for the purpose of bringing up reinforcements 
to Fort George, he determined to intercept him at the 
False Dukes on his way up. The force of commodore 
Chauncey, created in this short space of time, was com- 
posed of me Oneida, 14 guns, in which he sailed ; the Go- 
vernour Tompkins, lieutenant Brown, 6 guns 5 the Grow- 
ler, lieutenant Mix, of five guns ;'the conquest, lieutenant 
Elliot, of 2 guns; the Pert, Arundle, of 2 guns; and 
the Julia, Trant, of one SO pounder ; making in all S2 
guns. The vessels of the enemy, which were supposed 
to have passed up the Lakes, constituted nearly the whole 
force of the British, and consisted of the Royal George, 
26 guns ; ship Earl Moira 18 guns; schooners Prince Re- 
gent, 18 guns ; Duke of Gloucester 14 guns ; Tarento, 
14 guns ; Governour Simcoe, 12 guns. 

On tlie 8th, the squadron fell in with the Royal George, 
tjut lost sight of her during the night, having chased her 
into the bay of Quanti. In the morning she was discov- 
ered in Kingston channel. The commodore had made 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 85 

up hrs mind to board her ; but the wind blowing; directly 
in, and the enemy being too well protected by the guns of 
the batteries, he changed his intention. The next morn- 
ing he beat up in good order, and commenced an attack on 
the Royal George, under a heavy fire both from this ship 
and from the batteries. The conquest, the JuMa, the 
Pert, and the Growler, pushed forward in succession ; af- 
terwards the brig General Hamilton, and the Governour 
Tompkins ; shortly after, the whole fire of the batteries 
was turned upon the brig, and continued hot on both 
sides for an hour, when the Royal George cut her cables, 
and ran higher up the bay. The squadron being now ex- 
posed to the cross fire of the batteries, and not deeming 
it prudent to pursue the Royal George, hauled off' to the 
wind, and made sail out of the bay. This was certainly 
a most daring exploit, and, to say the least of it, merited 
success. The Royal George suff'ered severely in her 
hull ; the shot from the gun vessels struck her frequently, 
while the loss of commodore Chauncey was very incon- 
siderable. The commander of the Pert, Arundel, was 
wounded by the bursting of her gun, but refusing to quit 
I the deck, was knocked overboard and drowned. The 
i commodore captured a schooner off the harbour, and sent 
the Growler as her convoy past the entrance, for the pur- 
pose of decoying the Royal George, but without success. 
She then sailed with \\ev prize for Sackett's Harbour. 
On her way she discovered the Prince Regent and Earl 
Moira, convoying a sloop to Kingston ; she immediately 
s concealed herself behind a point, and when the armed 
I vessels had passed, she ran out and captured the schooiier, 
{and brought her into Sackett's Harbour. The prize Inui on 
board 12,000 dollars in specie, and the baggage of g^re- 
ral Brock, with captain Brock, the brother of that otiicer. 
Commodore Chauncey soon after arriving, received the 
intelligence respecting the Earl Moira, and immediate- 
ly set off in the midst of a severe storm, to intercept 
her at the False Ducks ; but returned to the Harbour 
without being able to fall in with her. 



86 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

He now occupied himself chiefly in superintending the 
new ship Madison, which was launched on the 26th of 
November. The winter set in soon after, and put an 
end to any further naval incident for the season. 



CHAPTER V. 

Meeting of Congress — Proposal for an Armistice — Reverses of 
Napoleon — Measures for carrying on the War — Blockade of our 
coast— The Southern Indians — Tecumseh's visit to the Creeks 
—War with the Seminoles — Third naval victory over a Bri- 
tish frigate— Disasters of our Arms to the West. 

TnKCongresss of the United States again assembled 
on the fourth of November, after a recess unusually 
short, on account of the new and interesting state of our 
affairs. Party spirit unfortunately raged amongst us, in 
a very high degree, and it was not difficult to foretell 
that no small portion would tind its way into the national 
councils. Recriminations of French influence, and im- 
proper submission to the outrages of Great Britain, very 
much embittered this animosity. The existence of 
party spirit is necessary and healthful to our political 
svstem ; it is iike the current of the stream, whicli pre- 
serves it pure and untainted. In despotisms there is no 
party spirit ; there all is conducted in the darkness and 
secrecy of intrigue. But party has its evils. In peace, it 
renovates the flagging energies of the nation, and keeps 
all things pure and sound ; on the contrary, in a period of 
war, this animosity may clog the efforts of the party in 
power, and may be a useful ally to the enemy. Unfortu- 
nately there prevailed a strong disposition to thwart the 
measures of tlie administration, and in this way compel it 
to sue for peace, without perhaps sufficiently reflecting, 
that the enemy might not be disposed' to grant it, upon 
other terms than such as would be disgraceful to the na- 
tion. It is not becoming a true lover of his country, to 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 87 

desire that the government, with which the nation, as 
respects others, is identified, should be disgraced, in 
order that the power may be transferred to better hands. 
This would not be the maxim of Washington. ]3ut on 
this subject it is difficult, if not impossible^ to draw the 
exact line between a manly and laudable opposition to 
what we conceive to be wrong, and such intemperance as 
may endanger the character and safety of the countrv. 
In one of the Eastern States, where the opposition to the 
war was most violent, it was voted to be immoral and im- 
politick to rejoice at the success of our arms ; of this vote 
they afterwards became ashamed, and ordered it to be 
erased from their journals. 

The administration, soon after the war, had mani- 
fested a wish for the restoration of peace, could it be 
done consistently with prudence. About the time of the 
declaration of war in this country, the Prince Regent 
had repealed his Orders in Council, one of the principal 
causes of hostilites : an act, which was by no means dic- 
tated by a sense of what was due to justice and to us. but 
by the urgencyof the particular interests of Great Britain. 
Having repealed them, he considered himself entitled to 
the same regard as if they had been expressly repealed 
on our account, and demanded that hostilities, on our 
part, should cease. To this the president replied, that 
being now at war, the United States would not put aa 
end to hostilities, unless a provision were made for a 
general settlement of differences, and a cessation of 
the abominable practice of impressment, pending the ne- 
gociation. In the mean time, a law would be passed for- 
bidingthe employment of British seamen in our vessels, 
of whatsoever kind. A law to this effect was passed dur- 
ing the session. 

Shortly after the commencement of the war, a pro- 
position for an armistice had been made by the governour 
of Canada, but was rejected as a matter of course. The 
American minister in London, was authorised to agree 
to a cessation of hostilities, even on the unofficial assur- 
ance that the practice of impressment would be discon- 
tinued, during the armistice. This was rejected. A pro- 



bo HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

position was afterwards made by admiral Warreu, but 
which required as a preliminary to every other step, 
that our armies should be immediately withdrawn, and the 
orders to our cruisers recalled. This he alleged, was in 
consequence^of our being the aggressors, and as such it 
became us to take the first step, and unconditionally 
throw down our arms. Here it might be asked, whether 
this countr}^ has ever experienced so much good faith and 
forbeaiance from Great Britain, as to justify such confi- 
dence ? But was she not the aggressor, by her own ac- 
knotvh Jgment ? for, by the repeal of the Orders in 
Council, if on our account, she acknowledged herself 
to }(2.ve violated our neutral rlglits. Moreover, it was 
well known that she had, at that moment, more than 
two thousand impressed Am'erican seamen, confined as 
prisoners of war, and persisted in refusing every arrange- 
ment which mii>;ht remedy in future the odious practice. 
So strangely inconsistent are the pretexts'of injustice, 
'i hese attempts at reconciliation had failed, when the 
Emperour of Russia interposed his mediation, which, on 
the part of our government, was instantly accepted : on 
being made known to England, it was declined, as being 
incompatible with her naval interests ; but she profess- 
ed a willingness to enter into a direct negociation ; this, it 
will be seen, was merely thrown out as a pretext, to pro- 
long the war at her pleasure. 

A most important change had taken place in the affairs 
of Europe. Napoleon had experienced a reverse, pro- 
portioned to the vastness of his designs. This man, in- 
toxicated with his former success, and with the vile flat- 
tery which is always paid to the despot, had begun to 
think himself more than mortal. It is thought that he 
had conceived the idea of universal empire, naturally 
enough the ultimate object of a conqueror ; for what con- 
queror ever set bounds to his ambition ? The vanity of 
his scheme, if any such ever entered his head, of bringing 
all Europe to his feet, of mastering the fleet of England, 
and then extending his power over the globe, was now 
fully demonstrated. The joy which many of our fellow 
citizens expressed on this occasion, was perhaps ill judged. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 89 

The fall of a despot and a tyrant, is certainly an agreeable 
theme to a republican ; but the immediate connexion ofthis 
event with our welfare, was not easily traced. It was 
very evident that the enmity both of France and England 
towards this country, proceeded from the same cause, 
and, considering human nature, a very natural cause ; 
to wit, the circumstance of our prospering and growing 
rich from their dissentions. We had but little to fear 
that we should be molested by any. European power, at- 
tempting to conquer our vast country ; and as to univer- 
sal dominion, England, in her claim to the sovereignty 
of the seas, already possessed it, as far as the thing, in 
its nature, was capable of being possessed. As to Eu- 
rope, the mad attempt of Napoleon had been followed 
by an overthrow so complete, that so far from being dan- 
gerous to its repose in future, it became a matter of doubt, 
with very enliglitened politicians, whether he would be 
able to maintain his own ground, and whether if France 
were reduced to a second rate power, Piurope would not 
have to fear a more formidable enemy in Russia. No- 
thing but the pacifick temper of the present sovereign, 
would be a guarantee to the safety of the neighbouring 
nations. The consequence of the rapid decline of the 
power of Napoleon, would be highly favourable to Eng- 
land, in the disposal of her forces against this country; 
and elated by her success against France, it was not 
probable that she would feel much disposition to treat 
with us on reasonable terms. 

The first business, on the meeting of congress, with 
a view to the war, which now occupied its chief atten- 
tion, was the providing an additional force. Enlist- 
ments had been extremely slow, and sufficient encou- 
ragement had not been held out for recruits. It was pro- 
posed to receive into the service of the United States, 
twenty thousand volunteers, for a year, to be clothed 
and paid in the same manner as regular troops. The in- 
efficacy ^of mere militia, under no discipline, and under 
no control, had been sufficiently seen, both during the 
present and the revolutionary war. But there was no 
mode of remedying the evil; for regular soldiers could 
not be raised, or ai least, in sufficient numbers. 
8* 



^JO HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

The navy attracted much attention. On this subject 
there prevailed the most perfect unanimity ; and it was 
resolved, that it should be fostered as the best and safest 
reliance of our country. Such as might have once been 
inimical to it, became its warmest friends. The national 
legislature now engaged with great assiduity, in devising 
such measures as were necessary, for a vigorous prosecu- 
tion of the war, and as would tend to remedy the evils 
already experienced, . 

The seaboard, although sometimes threatened by the 
enemy, had not yet experienced any serious molestation. 
In the month of December, the whole coast was proclaim- 
ed in a state of blockade^ but with no force actually ap- 
plied. This paper blockade had no pretence of retalia^ 
tion, like that declared against the coast of France ; and 
the United States did not choose to follow an example so 
contrary to the laws of nations, and in turn declare the 
coast of England in a state of blockade, and under that 
pretence interrupt the commerce of neutrals, going to her 
ports. The Biitish vessels were chiefly employed in the 
protection of her commerce against our cruisers, and her 
attention was so much taken up with the mighty aiFairs 
which were then passing on the continent, that we for- 
tunately remained, during this season, unmolested ; at 
least our homes and our firesides were not disturbed. 

A war, however, threatened us in another quarter, to 
which we now looked with no small anxiety. The 
southern Indians, equally ferocious in their modes of 
warfare, and perhaps more daring than the northern, 
began to exhibit signs of hostility. No people had ever 
less cause to complain. The Creeks, within the territo- 
rial limits of the United States, had been uniformly pro- 
tected by the Americans ; intruders upon their lands 
were turned oft' at the point of the bayonet ; immense 
sums were expended for the purpose of teacHing them the 
arts of civilized life ; persons were employed to reside 
among them, for the purpose of teaching those arts, and 
implements of agriculture were furnished at the publick 
expens^e. This humane system, commenced by Wash- 
ington, was strictly pursued by" subsequent administra- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 91 

tions. The effects were visible in the course of a few 
years. Their country and climate, probably the best 
m the United States, were capable of affording every- 
thing essential to their happiness. The domestick arts 
had taken root amongst them ; that strong stimulant to 
industry, separate property on the soil, was beginning 
tobe understood ; they possessed numerous herds, and 
all the domestick animals ; their situation was, in every 
respect, equal to that of the peasants in many parts of 
Europe. They had thrown off their clothing of skins, 
and wore cottons of their own manufacture; and their 
population was rapidly increasing. They had always 
lived on terms of friendship with the United States ; 
their lands had never been encroached upon ; and fiey 
had become considerably intermixed, by marriages, w^th 
the whites. According to one of their laws, no wi)ite 
roan , except the Indian agent, is permitted to reside in 
their territory, unless he marries a native. 

The benevolent societies of the United States, had 
opened schools through the country, for the purpose of 
givinj^ the finishing to this state of manners : for in every 
other respect they had entirely thrown off the savage 
habits. Nearly the same state of improvement existed 
amongst the other tribes, the Choctaws, Chickasaws, and 
the Cherokees. The same regular industry was visible 
in the villages of thes6 people, in their daily occupations, 
in their cultivation of the soil, in their attention to their 
lands, and even in the construction of their dwellings, 
which in many cases, were built by white carpenters 
employed for the purpose, and little inferior to the 
generality of white settlers. So far, indeed, had this 
civilization advanced, that the luxuries of coffee and 
sugar, and many other articles, had been introduced 
among them : and it was no uncommon thing to see their 
women riding to some neighbouring town, dressed in 
neat cotton garments of their own weaving, on side- 
saddles manufactured by the wliites, which had cost 
them twenty -five or thirty dollars. Many of them iiad 
slaves, who laboured in the fields, or w ere employed in 
the various occupations of the household. 



92 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

To seduce these people into a war, would be an act of 
cruelty to them, and, hostilities on their part, would be 
the extreme of folly. For although, if united, their num- 
bers would be thrice that of the nothern Indians, yet 
being completely surrounded by white settlements, their 
destruction must be inevitable. The United States' agent, 
colonel Hawkins, an enlightened man, had devoted his 
life to the civilization of these unfortunate people, and had I 
acquired a considerable ascendency. But, amongst them, 
there was a large portion of the idle and the worthless, 
who had been too lazy to acquire property, and who were 
inclined to return to the old state of savage manners, be- 
cause more favourable to their loose, unrestrained pro- 
pensities, than the habits newly "introduced, which 
they pretended to despise. During the summer, while 
war raged on the northern frontier, the disorderly 
Creeks began to shew much uneasiness ; they collected 
in small bands, roamed about the country, commit- 
ted depredations on the property of the well-ordered 
class, and often upon the whites. Shortly after the sur- 
render of Hull, this disposition broke out into open vio- 
lence. A party of these vagabond Muscogees fell upon 
some people, who were descending the Mississippi, and 
murdered them near the mouth of the Ohio. The affair 
was represented to the nation, who caused the perpetra- 
tors to be seized and put to death. A civil war, soon 
after, was the consequence, in which the savage part, 
as might be expected, prevailed ; and the greater num- 
ber of those who had been friendly to the United States, 
were either obliged to fly, or to join their standard. 

Other causes contributed to bring about this ruinous 
state of things. The celebrated chief, Tecumseh, had, the 
year before, visited all the soutliern tribes, for the purpose 
of kindling a spirit unfriendly to the United States. This 
savage Demosthenes, wherever he went, called councils 
of their tribes, and with that bold and commanding elo- 
quence, which he possessed in a degree infinitely supe- 
riour to what has ever been witnessed amongst these 
people, exhausted every topick calculated to operate on 
their minds; and alienate their affections from their bene- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 93 

factors. Amongst all these nations his speeches had 
great effect, but amongst the Creeks particularly, al- 
though the more considerate rejected his interference. 
Amid the usual topicks of hig discourses, he was in the 
habit of reproaching them with tneir civilization ; and in 
the keenest and most sarcastick manner, contrasting 
their degenerate effeminacy, with every thing that was 
^reat and noble in the opinion of Int!ians. Demosthenes, 
in his reproaches of his countrymen, was nut more ter- 
ribly veliementand audacious. Against the United States, 
he pronounced the most furious invectives, which might 
be compared to the phiiippicka of the Grecian orator ; he 
unquestionably left a strong impression on the minds of 
all the southern Indians. 

There existed, however, another more immediate cause 
of their enmity towards us. The Seminoles, and the 
tribes of the Creeks who resided within the territory of 
vSpain, were frequently supplied with arms and presents 
from the British government, with a view of engaging 
tlvem to make war upon the United States, and also to 
prevail upon the other Creeks to join them. The town 
of Pensacola, which was then, to every purpose, under the 
control of Great Britain, was the usual place at which 
these presents were distributed, and where the vagabond 
Indians could be supplied with arms ; and they resorted 
to it, from all the different tribes, for the purpose of re- 
ceiving them. It was no difficult matter, thus to excite 
hostilities; unfortunately, the event proved them but 
too successful. Such was the disposition of tiie southern 
Indians, during the first year of the war. 

The Choctaws, Chickasaws and Cherokees, the latter 
particularly, being further removed from British influence, 
and within reach of our power, were disposed to be friend- 
ly ; but many of their restless young men, in spite of the 
nation, strayed oft' and joined our enemies. Hostilities 
did not commence on the part of any of these Indians, 
within our territory, during the first year of the war. 
The government, however, fearing the worst, called ou 
the governours of Georgia and Tennessee, to hold their 
militia in readiness s and general Jackson ^ at the head of 



94 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

two thousand men, early in the spring, marched througl 
the Choctaw and Chickasaw country to Natchez, a dis 
tanceoffive hundred miles ; but every thing appearing 
peaceful in this quarter, he shortly after returned. This 
expedition had the effect of fixing the tribes thruu: h whicl 
it passed, and of retarding the Creek war. The tribes 
within the limits of the Spanish part of Florida, on th 
contrary, declared themselves at once, and brandishec 
the scalping knife against the frontier of Georgia. 

The Seminoles, very soon after the declaration of war 
began to make incursions into Georgia, accompanied byr 
number of negro runaways, who had taken refuge amongsj 
them. They proceeded to the usual work of murdering; 
the inhabitants, and plundering their property. Early ir| 
September, a party of marines and about twenty volun 
teers, under captain Williams, were attacked near Davis's: 
Creek by about fifty Indians and negroes. After a des , 
perate resistance, in which captains Williams and Fori!]' 
were both severely wounded, the party retreated, leaving 
the savages in possession of their waggons and teams, j 

On the 24th of the same month, colonel Newman, o 
the Georgia volunteers, with about one hundred and se 
venteen men, marched to the attack of the Lochwaj 
towns. When within a few miles of the first of these 
he met a party of one hundred and fifty Indians on horse 
back, who instantly dismounted and prepared for battle 
Colonel Newman ordered a charge, and the Indians wer( 
driven into one of the swamps, which abound in this pan 
of the country. As they fled, the fire of the musketr} 
did considerable execution, and, amongst others of th( 
slain, thejT left their king in the hands of the whites. Tht 
Indians discovering this, with a spirit which deserves tc 
be admired, made several desperate charges, in order tc 
recover the body of the chief, and were each time driven 
back. But in another attempt, still more desperately fu- 
rious, they succeeded in carrying off the dead body : 
when they retired from the field, after a severe conflici 
of two hours. This, however, did not free the Georgians 
from their unpleasant situation. Before night, the In- 
dians returned with considerable reinforcements of ne- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 95 

groes, and after a loss more severe than the first, they 
again fled« The volunteers now found their situation 
becoming every moment more critical ; the number of 
their wounded, would neither permit them to retreat, nor 
to advance, and the enemy was hourly increasing on all 
sides. A messenger was despatched for reinforcements ; 
and in the meanwhile, they threw up a small breastwork. 
Here they remained until the 4th of October, waiting for 
assistance ; having in the meantime repelled numerous 
assaults from the Indians, who dontinued to harass them 
day and night. The Indians observing that a perfect 
silence prevailed within the breast-works, suspected that 
they had been deserted in the night ; and approached un- 
Jder this assurance, until within thirty or forty paces, 
when the Georgians suddenly shewed themselves above 
the breast-work, fired their pieces, and sent them jelling 
to the swamps. The volunteers then decamped, and 
reached unmolested the village of Peccolatta, whence 
they had set out. Intelligence of this affair reached the 
government about the commencement ef the session of 
[(Congress, and it was found necessary to make suitable 
preparations to meet a war in this quarter. The defence 
of this important frontier was assigned to general Pinck- 
ney, of South Carolina, a gentleman of great distinction 
and ability, who was appointed a brigadier in the service 
ofthe United States. 

Congress had not been long in session, when the pub- 
lick feelings were once more excited, by news of the most 
flattering kind. Another naval victory was announced, 
i^Jnot less splendid than those ofthe Constitution and the 
l,j Macedonian ; the flag of another British frigate was trans- 
to 
to 
en 
[«• 



mitted to our capital, and was placed amongst the otiier 
trophies of our naval prowess. 

In October, the Constitution, commodore Bainbridge, 
and the Hornet, captain Lawrence, sailed from New 
York, and were to effect a junction with the Essex, cap- 
■jjjtain Porter, which sailed about the same time from the 
Delaware ; the obj ect of which was to cruise in the South 
Seas, and destroy the British fisheries and commerce in 
tJjat quarter. Ihe junction not happening at the time 



96 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

and place appointed, commodore Porter passed round 
Cape Horn alone. In the mean while, on the 29th De- 
cember, a few leagues west of St. Salvador, the Consti- 
tution, which had a few days before parted company with 
the Hornet, descried a British frigate. Commodore 
Bainbridge tacked sail and stood for her. At 2 P. M. 
the enemy was within half a mile of the Constitution, and. 
to windward, having hauled down his colours, except 
the union jack, which was at the mizen-mast head. A 
gun was then fired ahead, to make him shew his colours, 
which was returned by a broadside. The enemy's co- 
lours being now hoisted, the action commenced with round 
and grape ; but he kept at so great a distance that this 
had little effect : and in this position, if he were brought 
nearer, the Constitution would be exposed to raking ; at 
thirty minutes past two, both ships were within good can- 
nistef distance, when the Constitution's wheel was shot 
away. At forty minutes past two, the fore and main-sail 
were set, and commodore Bainbridge, being now deter- 
mined to close with her, luffed up for that purpose, and* 
in ten minutes after, the enemy's jib-boom got foul of the 
Constitution's mizen rigging, and in another ten minutes, 
his bow-sprit and jib-boom were shot away. At five min- 
utes past three, his main top mast was shot awa^r just 
above the cap. This was followed by the loss of his gaff 
and spanker boom, and soon after his main mast went 
nearly by the board. At fifteen minutes past three the 
enemy was completely silenced, and his colours at tho 
main mast being down, it was thought he had surrender- 
ed ; under this idea, the Constitution shot ahead to repair 
damages ; after which, discovering the enemy's flag still 
flying, she wore, stood for him in a handsome style, and 
got close athwart his bows in an effectual position for ra- 
king, when his main mast went entirely by the board, and 
he lay an unmanageable wreck. He now struck his co- 
lours, and was taken possession of by lieutenant Parker,^ 
and found to be the British frigate Java, of thirty-eight^ 
guns, but carrying forty-nine, commanded by a distinguish- 
ed ofticer, captain liaaibert, who was mortally wounded. ; 
She had onboard four hundred men, besides one hundred 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 97 

seamen whom she was carrying out to the East Indies^ 
for the service there. The Gonstrtution had nine men 
killed, and twenty. five wounded ; the Java sixty killed, 
and one hundred and twenty wounded. She had on 
board despatches for St. Helena, Cape of Good Hope, 
and the different establishments in the East Indies, and 
China, with copper for a seventy-four, building at Bom- 
bay. There were also on board a number of passengers, 
among whom were lieutenant general Hislop, governour 
of Bombay ; major Walker ; and one staff major ; cap- 
tain Marshall, master and comuiander of theRoyal Navy; 
and several officers appointed to ships in the East Indies. 

The conduct of all the American officers, on this occa- 
sion, was as conspicuous for gallantry during the engage- 
ment, as for humanity to the vanquished. It is this true 
chivalrick courtesy, which gives estimation to valour. 
Lieutenant Aylwin, so favour.\bly known to the reader, 
received a severe wounds of which he soon after died. He 
was in the act of firing his pistols at the enemy from the 
quarter deck hammock, when he received a ball in his 
shoulder blade, which threw him on the deck. Midship- 
man Dulany, who had fought by his side in both actions of 
this ship, ordered two men of his division to carry him be- 
k)w ; to this he would not consent, until he saw the issue 
of the battle, at the same time declaring that no man 
should quit liis post on his account. Lieutenant Parker, 
James Dulany, of Pennsylvania, and James Packett, of 
Virginia, were much <Ustinguished ; the latter was after- 
wards presented with a sword by his native state, and 
was promoted to a lieutenancy. Many extraordinary 
instances of bravery were manifested by the seamen, one 
of whom, after being mortally wounded, lay upon deck 
during a great part of the actiou, apparently expiring; 
but no sooner was it announced that the enemy had struck, 
than he raised himself up, gave three cheers, fell back 
and expired. 

On the first of Janaary, the commodore finding the 
prize in such a ntite as to render it impossible to orirtg 
her in, and leaving every thing on board except the pri- 
gonere' baggage, blew her up. On arriving at fe^. ttaiva- 

9 



98 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

dor, the commodore received the publick acknowledge- 
ments of governour Hislop, who presented him with an 
elegant sword in consideration of the polite treatment 
which he had shewn. He released the private passengers 
without considering them as prisoners ; the publick pas- 
sengers, officers and crew, were released on their parole. 
At this place the Constitution met with the Hornet, and 
leaving this vessel to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne, the 
commodore sailed for the United States, changing the 
original destination for the South Seas. 

On the arrival of commodore Baicbridge in the United 
States, he was universally hailed by the applauses of his 
countrymen ; he received the freedom of the city of New- 
York in a gold box ; a piece of plate from the citizens of 
Philadelphia, and the thanks of many of the state legisla- 
tures. Congress also presented him a medal, and voted 
fifty thousand dollars to himself, officers and crew. 

In the midst of these affairs, news of fresb disasters to 
the westward, and accompanied by circumstances fiucb 
as rarely occur in the annals of history, tended much to 
temper the publick joy for the second victory of the Con- 
stitution. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Harrison returns to Ohio— General Winchester sends a detach» 
ment to protect Frenchtown — Colonel Lewis defeats the Bri- 
tish and Indians — Winchester arrives with reinforcements — 
Battle of the River Raisin— Shocking conduct of the British 
and their allies — Harrison's return — Siege of Fort Meigs— 
Defeat of Dudly— The siege raised— Exploit of Major Ball. 

We liave seen with what indefatigable industry gene- 
ral Harrison v as engaged, in placing the western frontier 
in a posture of defence, and in attempting to regain what 
we had lost. The Indian tribes had been made to feel 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 99 

the war iti their own country, and were driven to such a 
distance by the destruction of their villages, as to prevent 
them from annoying our settlements ; they were compel- 
led to remove their wives and children to the distant 
British establishments, in order to obtain the means of 
subsistence. The close of the season was now chiefly 
occupied in strengthening the frontier posts, and in es- 
tablishing others. Great exertions w ere made hf gover- 
nour Meigs, of Ohio, to keep up the necessary supply of 
men, and to provide the means of subsistence. General 
Harrison established his head quarters at Franklintoa, 
whence he could with greater facility organize and distri- 
bute to the different forts, the reinforcements and supplies 
which must arrive. His object was to concentrate a con- 
siderable force at the Rapids, and thence, unless a change 
of circumstances ff.rbade, proceed to Detroit. The go- 
vernment was compelled, in consequence of the taking of 
that place, to transport artillery and publick stores at an 
enormous expense across the mountains, and down the 
Ohio ; and afterwards to the different forts. This neces- 
sarily consumed much time, and delayed the operations 
of the army. 

In the meanwhile, general Winchester continued at 
Fort Defiance, with about eight hundred men ; many of 
the volunteers having returned home on the expiration 
of their term of service. Those who remained were 
chiefly from Kentucky, and tlie greater part ranked 
amongst its most respectable citizens. Early in the month 
of January, general Winchester received intimations 
from the inhabitants of the village of Frenchtown, which 
is situated on the river Raisin, between the Rapids and 
Detroit, that a large body of British and Indians were 
about to concentrate at this point, for the purpose of pre- 
venting the further progress of the Americans. The in- 
habitants became alarmed at their situation, besought the 
Americans to march to their protection, as they would 
probably be exposed to the horrours of Indian massacre, 
in the midst of ferocious savages, whom the British were 
obliged to indulge, that they might be kept in a good hu- 
mour. Threats against them had, besides,been thrown out 



iOO HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

b^ one of the Indian Chiefs. The sensibility of theyouBg 
American volunteers, officers and privates, was strong- 
ly excited, and they earnestly besought the general tolead 
them to the defence of the distressed inhabitants. With 
some rehictance, he yielded to their wishes, and contrary 
to the general plan of the commander in chief, resolved 
to send a force to their relief. Accordingly, on the seven- 
teenth'of January, he detached a body of men under co- 
lonels Lewis and Allen, with orders to wait at Presque 
isle, until joined by the main body. 

On their arrival, information was received that an ad- 
vance party ofBritish and Indians, had already taken pos- 
session of Frenchtown. It was determined to march in^ 
stantiy and attack them. As they drew near, the enemy 
became aj^prised of their approach, and prepared for their 
reception. ColoneJ Allen commanded the right wing, ma- 
jor Graves the left, and major Madison the centre. On 
V oming to the river, which was bridged with ice, they dis- 
played and moved forward under a fire from a howitzer 
and musketry. Majors Graves and Madison, with their 
battalions, were'ordered to dislodge the enemy from the 
houses and picketing, which they in a moment effected, un- 
der a shower of bullets, and drove the British and Indians 
to the woods. Colonel Allen made a simultaneous move- 
ment upon tiieir left, and after several spirited charges > 
compelled these to take the wood also. Here availing 
themselves of the fences and fallen timber, they attempt- 
ed to make a stand ; but were attacked a second time^ 
and after a conflict more obstinate than the first, they 
again lied. They now attempted to draw their pursuers 
into a wood ; and partly succeeding, they charged in turn 
furiously, but were unable to break the American line. 
A severe conflict now ensued, but the enemy was finally 
beaten, pursued with a continual charge for several miles, 
and entirel}^ dispersed. The American loss was twelve 
killed," and fifty -five wounded : that of the enemy could 
not well be ascertained, but fifteen of the Indians were 
left on the field. The volunteers having thus gallantly 
efitcted their object, encamped on the spot, where they 
remained until the 20th, whea they were joined by gene- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 101 

ral Winchester. With this addition, their whole force 
exceeded seven hundred and fifty men. 

Six hundred men were placed within a line of pickets, 
and the remainder, to the number of one hundred and 
fifty, encamped in the open field. On the morning; of the 
^2d, a combined force of about fifteen hundred men, un- 
der Proctor and the Indian chiefs Round-head and JSplit- 
log, suddenly attacked our little army. They were in 
an instant ready for the reception of the enemy, who 
planted six pieces of artillery, and opened a heavy 
fire, accompanied with musketry, against the slight 
breast-work of pickets. The body of men belonging to 
the encampment, and composing the right* wing, was soon 
overpowered by numbers, and endeavoured to retreat 
across the river. Two companies of fifty men each, see- 
ing the critical situation of their comrades, sallied out of 
the breast-work to their relief, but shared the same fate. 
Nearly the whole of these unfortunate men were either 
cut off, or surrendered themselves prisoners to the Bri- 
tish, under promise of protection. The left wing within 
the pickets, still continued a cool and steady resistance. 
Three successive assaults were made by the British 41st, 
but they were driven back, with the loss of thirty killed 
and one hundred wounded. When the right wing broke 
at the commencement of the action, great etibrts had been 
made by general Winchester and colonel Lewis, to rally 
and bring them within the pickets 5 but in the attempt these 
officers were taken prisoners. Notwithstanding these 
misfortunes, and the overwhelming force wliich assailed 
them on every side, tiiey still continued, with firmness 
and determination never surpassed, to repulse every as- 
sault of the enemy, until eleven o'clock in the dayi 
making prodigious slaughter in his ranks. 

Finding at length that it would be vain to contend open- 
ly with suchmen, resolved todefend themselves to the last, 
and thatevenif they had now been successful, their vieto- 
ry would have been dearly bought, the enemy attempted 
to prevail on them to surrender. The general was told 
by coioael Proctor, that unless his men surrendered, they 
tvould be delivered over to the fury of the savages, or 
9* 



102 HISTORY OF THE WAR: 

what amounts to the same thing, no responsibility would 
be taken for their conduct, arid that the houses of the 
village would be burnt. The general sent a flag com- 
nmnicating these particulars, and stating that in order to 
preserve the remainder of his brave troops, he had agreed 
to surrender them as prisoners of war, on condition of 
their being protected from the savages, of their being al- 
lowed to retain their private property, and of having 
their side arms returned them. The flag passed three 
limes, the Americans unwilling to surrender with arms in 
their hands, until they had received a positive engagement 
fi'om a British colonel that they should not be murdered, 
and that they s^iould have the privilege of burying the 
dead. Thirty-five oflicers, and four hundred and fifty 
non-commissioned oflicers and men, still remained, after 
lighting six hours against artillery, surrounded by the 
yells of a thousand savas;es, waiting like wolves for their 
prey. At this time the Icilled, wou»ded and missing, of 
the little army, including those that had been outside the 
picket, amounted to more than three hundred. The loss 
of the British could not have been less. The little band, 
thus solicited by their general, and giving way to that 
ray of hope which the bravest men in desperate situations 
will seize, at last consented to a surrender. 

The office of the historian sometimes imposes a melan- 
choly duty. The mind may be allowed to indulge a gene- 
rous satisfaction, in recording those actions where a high, 
but mistaken ambition, calls forth our energies at the ex- 
pense of humanity. Who can read without admiring, the 
retreat of the ten thousand Greeks, and what heart can 
he insensible to the recital of the fate of Leonidas and 
his immortal band ! The virtues of such men, their forti- 
tude, their love of country, their unconquerable minds, 
give a sanctity to their fate ; and while we grieve for 
them, we rejoice that we also are men. Far otherwise 
when we trace, in characters of blood, the cold, deliberate, 
fiend-like depravity, which assimilates men to the most 
odious and ferocious of the brute creation. 

'I'be task I must now fulfil is painful 5 I must speak of 
such things as I almost shudder to name 5 neither can it be 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 103 

done without tearing; open the yet bleeding wounds of 
my country. But faithful history forbids that they should 
be passed over in silence ; they must stand forth in all the 
awfulness of truth : and that impartial judgment must be 
passed upon them, which will doom them to the detesta- 
tion of all posterity. Tl\e vengeance of heaven does not 
sleep. There is a measure of retributive justice even in 
this world, which sooner or later overtakes the swiftest 
^uilt. Not the most infuriated passions of the worst of 
times, ever generated a more shocking scene of cruelties 
than were practised towards a band of brave men, fight- 
ing in honourable battle, and who deserved statues of 
their country. Impelled by feelings of humanitj^, they 
marched to protect the feeble and the helpless from 
savage violence ; and assailed by overvviielming numbers, 
they might have contended to the last man ; but yielding 
to the solicitations of their captured general, to the threats 
of conflagration and murder, to the innocent people of the 
village, they surrendered in an evil hour to a faithless and 
treacherous foe, that they might be consigned to cruel 
suffering, to bulRiery, to murder, to unrelenting torture, to 
every species of savage death. Well miglit those dispos- 
ed to wage such a war, wish to destroy the pen of histo- 
ry. The pen of history cannot be broken.* At its com- 
mand, the sword of vengeance shall leap from its scab- 
bard. Would for the honour of Britain ; would for the 
sake of humanity ; would for the sake of our common re* 
lationship to a nation in which there exist many of the 
most generous and refined, that the odious tale of the river 
Uaisin and Frenchtown, might be consig;ned to eternal 
oblivion. But it cannot be. The sacred call of truth 
must be obeyed. The savage and wanton massacre of our 
heroick countrymen, in the presence of a British officer, 
has ncft been detiied, or palliated. Other atrocities the 
perpetrators have attempted to cover, by some flimsy veil 
of unsubstantial excuse, but tins charge has always been 
met with silence. They have not dared directly to deny ; 

* In the Vandal mutilations of the beautiful naval monument 
at Washington, the pen of the figure representing history was 
broken. 



104 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

and, gracious Heaven, where could they find an excuse ! 
Let the virtuous Briton, who reads this page, blush for his 
countrymen ; let the posterity of the nation to which we 
are so closely related, shed a tear upon it, and may fu- 
ture generations of Americans, for the sake of the com- 
mon relationship they bear to a Sidney, a Russel, a Chat- 
ham, and a Howard, generously forgive. They cannot 
forget. 

Scarcely had the Americans surrendered, under the 
stipulation of protection from the British officer, than 
our brave citizens now discovered too late, that they 
were reserved to be butchered in cold blood. Of the 
right wing, but a small number had escaped ; the work 
of scalping and stripping the dead, and murdering those 
who could no longer resist, was suffered to go on with- 
out restraint. The infernal work was now to begin with 
those who had so bravely defended themselves. The 
infamous Proctor and the British officers turned a deaf 
ear to the just remonstrances of these unhappy men. 
Contrary to express stipulations, the swjprds were takenj 
from the sides of the officers, many of in9ki stripped al-.- 
most naked, and robbed. The brave dead were stripped i 
and scalped, and their bodies shockingly mutilated. The;! 
tomahawk put an end at once to the sufferings of many 
of the wounded who could not rise ; in allusion to which, 
some days afterwards, a British officer observed, " The 
Indians are excellent doctors." The prisoners, who 
now remained, with but a few exceptions, instead of be- 
ing guarded by British soldiers, were delivered to the 
charge of the Indians, to be marched in the rear of the ar- 
my to Maiden. I'his was, in other words, a full permis- 
sion to indulge their savage thirst of blood ; and in this 
they were not disappointed ; for the greater part of these 
ill-fated men were murdered on the way, through*mere 
wantonness. Perhaps, as a christian, if he be such. Proc- 
tor attempted to put a stop to these butcheries ; no — 
there wa^ not even an attempt ; and in this country we 
knavv well that it was amply in his power to have pre- 
ventea these things. Bujt if he were not, it neither les- 
sens his villainy nor the infamy of the British, in asso- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 105 

ciating with such allies. All such as became too weak 
for want of nourishment, from excessive fatigue, from 
their wounds, in this most inclement season of the year, 
were at once despatched. But small was the number of 
this little army, that ever reached the British garrison ; 
the greater part of the prisoners had been carried off by 
the Indians, that they might satiate their fiend-like hatred 
by roasting them at the stake ; or if reserved, it was to 
gratify their cupidity, by rendering them the objects of 
an abominable trafRck. Alas ! what heart that does not 
shrink with inward horrour, at the contemplation of this 
ghastly scene ! But its abominations were not yet com- 
plete. 

About sixty of the wounded, many of them officers of 
distinction, or individuals of much respectability, had 
been suffered to take shelter in the houses of tiie inhabi- 
tants, and two of their own surgeons permitted by Proc- 
tor to attend them, from wiiom they also obtained a pro- 
mise that a guard should be placed to protect them, and 
that they should be carried to Maiden the next morning 
in sleds. But alas ! this wretch's aft'ected humanity, was 
but an aggravation of his cruelty, by awakening a hope 
which he intended to disappoint. No guard of soldiers 
was left, and on the next day, instead of sleds to convey 
them to a place of safety, a party of Indians returned to 
the field of battle, fell upon these poor wounded men, 
plundered them of their clothing, and every article of 
any value which remained, tomahawked the greater part 
of them, and, to finish .the scene, fired the houses, and 
consumed the dying and the dead. 

The terrible tale is not yet told. Those rites, which in 
every civilized country are held sacred, which are not 
withheld from the vilest malefactor, which are paid alike 
to enemies and to friends, the rites of sepulture, although 
there existed an express stipulation with the monster who 
commanded, a stipulation unnecessary amongst civilized 
men, yet these were not only denied, but the humane in- 
habitants of the village dared not perform them under pain 
of death. And why was this refuted.^ Because, said 
Proctor, his majesty's allies would not permit it ! Was 



106 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

there any attempt made to bury them ? None. Not- 
withstanding this, some of the inhabitants, although it 
^' was as much as their lives were worth," did venture to 
perform this last and pious office to captain Hart, to cap- 
tain Woolfolk, and a few others ; but the remainder, near- 
ly two hundred in number, never had this office perform- 
ed for them, until their friends and relatives triumphed^ 
over the inhuman monster, the autumn following, and 
then gathered up their bleaching bones. Their mangled 
bodies had been suffered to lie on the ground exposed to 
the ferocious beasts of prey, or to the more horrible pollu- 
tion of domestick animals. 

The general tragedy was diversified by a hundred 
scenes of individual suiferings. The fate of the brave 
and accomplished captain Hart, a near relative of two 
of our most distinguished statesmen, (Henry Clay, and 
James Brown,) a young gentleman of finished education 
and polished manners, cannot be related without a tear. 
He had in a particular manner distinguished himself dur- 
ing the engagement, and had received a severe wound in 
the knee. On being surrendered with the other prisoners, 
he was recognized by colonel Elliot, a native of the Unit- 
ed States, with whom he had been a class-mate at Prince- 
ton, but who had become a British officer and an ally to 
the savages. Base indeed must be that man, whose soul, 
under such circumstances, would not be touched. Elliot 
voluntarily offered his services to the friend of his youth» 
his countryman, promised to take him under his special 
protection, and to transport him to Maiden ; but whether 
his heart, naturally vile, soon changed its purpose, or 
whether forbidden by Proctor, he gave himself no further 
concern on the subject. The next day a party of Indians 
came into the room where he lay, and tore him from his 
bed ; he was then carried to another apartment by one of 
his brother officers, where he soon experienced the same 
treatment. He then, by the offer of a large sum of money, 
induced some Indians to take him to Maiden ; they had 
proceeded but a short distance, when they dragged him 
from his horse, shot him and scalped him. The same 
species of suffering was undergone by colonel Allen, by 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 107 

captains Hickman, Woolfolk, and M^Cracken. Many of 
the choicest sons of Kentucky had been of this ill-fated 
band ; we may name Mr. Simpson,amember of congress, 
captains Bledsoe, Matson, Hamilton, Williams, and Kel- 
ly, and majors Madison and Ballard. With the excep- 
tion of three companies of United States infantry under 
captains Hightower, Collier, and Sabrie, they were all 
the volunteers of that patriotick state. On the evening 
succeeding the engagement, rum was distributed to the 
Indians, for a frolick, in which they were disposed to in- 
dulge, and we may easily suppose what was the nature of 
their infernal orgies. 

Proctor now beginning to fear the consequences of the 
infamy attached to his conduct, offered a price for those 
prisoners, whom the Indians still preserved ; those pri- 
soners who had surrendered on tlie faith of a capitulation 
with him, and whom he ought never to have abandoned. 
The humane inhabitants of Detroit, had already exhibit- 
ed a degree of tenderness and solicitude for their unfor- 
tunate countrymen, which will ever entitle them to our 
gratitude and esteem. Many of them parted with every 
thing they possessed of value, for the purchase of the pri- 
soners ; for, to the disgrace of the British arms must it be 
recorded, persons of the first respectability, who compos- 
ed this Spartan band, were suffered, under the eyes of 
colonel Proctor, to be hawked about the streets from door 
to door, and offered for sale like beasts ! The only re- 
straint on the cruelty of the savage wretches, arose from 
permitting them to consult their avarice. Even such 
prisoners as were more fortunate, no matter what their 
rank or character, were treated with every species of con- 
tumely and contempt. 

The conduct of the people at Detroit was such as might 
be expected from humane Americans. Every class of 
people eagerly sought opportunities of redeeming the un- 
fortunate sufferers. The female sex, ever the foremost 
in acts of benevolence and in sympathy for the distressed, 
were particularly distinguished 4 they gladly gave their 
shawls, and even the blankets from their beds, when no- 
thing else remained for them to give. Woodward, the 



108 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

former judge of the supreme court, and appointed by the 
President of the United States, a man of enlightened 
mind, now openly and boldly remonstrated with Proctor, 
and in the manly tone of his injured country depicted 
the infamy of the British conduct. " The trutli," said he, 
" must undoubtedly eventually appear, and that unfor- 
tunate day must meet the steady and impartial eye of 
history." Those facts have been established by a cloud 
of witnesses, and the appeal of Judge Woodward will 
reach posterity. Let the reader of this history, now re- 
member, that this was but the commencement of a series 
of barbarities, both , pen the Atlantic board, and upon 
the frontier, which was afterwards systematically pursu- 
ed : that so far from this having been covered by the base 
excuse of retaliation, it is a charge which has never other- 
wise been met by Britain but with the silence of conscious 
guilt. 

There can be nothing more delightful to a good man 
than the reflection that he lives in the heart of gratitude. 
What is all earthly pageantry, or power, or wealth, com- 
pared to the pleasure of a noble mind, in the contempla- 
tion of the bright store of its virtuous actions ! Who would 
not be a M'Intosh,* to experience, wherever he goes, the 
unfeigned, the full, the affecting homage of nature, from 
the beings, whom at the risk of his life, and at the ex- 
pense of his ample fortune, he saved from horrid massa- 
cres. Oh ! delightful reward of virtue ! Whom parents 
teach their children to bless, while the families indebted 
to him for their existence, cling around him with tearful 
gratitude ! The page shall brighten which contains the 
name of Augustus B. Woodward ; " who (to use the ex-^ 
pression of an American, who acknowledged him his bene- 
factor) was the life and soul of t4ie Americans who re- 

* Mr. Mintosh several times visited this ocuntiy. The ex- 
pression of gratitude from thousands whom he saved, was almost 
overwhelming. There are few scenes in the annals of history, or 
in the fictions of the poets, so sublimely affecting-, as those which 
occurrtKl V'h-n this good mar. visited Baltimore and New Orleans. 
In these pia:es particularly, the unfortunate people v/ere receiv- 
ed with open arms, and now life in comfort and respectability. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 109 

raained ; to whom they all looked up for succour in the 
hour of difficulty, for advice on every occasion.*' His 
zeal and industry were unwearied, and to his exertions 
many a family is indebted for the restoration of the ten- 
derest relative, a father, a son, or a brother. 

The indij^nation of the American officers was, on one 
occasion, nobly expressed. When at Fort George, all 
except generalVVinchester and some others, were per- 
mitted to return home on their parole ; when the paper 
was presented for signature, they demanded to know who 
were his majesty's allies ? Insolence and guilt were stag- 
gered at the question. Ashamed to own their savage 
allies, they replied, his majesty' sallies are known. Truly 
they were known, they were known like theblood-hounds 
of Fizarro 5 they were known to the disgrace of their em- 
ployers. 

Never did any calamity so deeply affect the sensibili- 
ties of a people. All Kentucky was literally in mourn- 
ing ; for the soldiers thus massacred, tortured, burnt, or 
denied the common rites of sepulture, were of the most 
respectable families of the state; many of them young 
men of fortune and property, with numerous friends and 
relatives. 

It would be unjust, in this common anathema, to in- 
clude all the British officers ; the names of some deserve 
to be rescued from this indelible reproach ; major Muir, 
captains Aikins, Curtis, Dr. Bowen, and the reverend 
Mr. Farrow. Elliot was also spoken of in favourable 
terms by the American officers, as having on some occa- 
sions interested himself for the sufferers. Enough lias 
certainly been said on this distressing subject ; one part, 
however, cannot be omitted. Froctor, parceiving the 
eagerness of the people of Detroit in purchasing the un- 
happy captives, actually issued an order prohibiting any 
further purchases, on the ground that they gave more 
than the government. This officer was afterwards pro- 
moted to the rank of a brigadier, in consequence of his 
good conduct, particularly in saving the prisoners from 
the fury of the Indians. If any thing can move indigna- 
Uoji, it is this climax of insult. It is thus that Great 
10 



110 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Britain wilfully shuts her eyes. The facts were after- 
wards proved to the satisfaction of every man, and the 
British government was silent ; but had not the magnani- 
mity to consign the guilty wretch to punishment. 

The incidents of this catastrophe might be swelled to a 
volume. A few days after the affair, a doctor M'Keehan 
was despatched by general Harrison for the purpose of 
attending the sicK, and with gold to provide such thin^ 
as they might want. The doctor, notwithstanding his 
ilag, his sacred errand, and an open letter directed to any 
British officer, stating the object of his mission, was ac- 
tually wounded and robbed, then dragged to Maiden, 
whence he was taken to Quebec. After the sufferings of 
several months, dragged from place to place, from dun- 
geon to dungeon, sutierings which could hardly occur on 
the banks of the Niger, he at length reached home, with 
a constitution totally impaired. Such are the distressing 
occurrences which it becomes the painful duty of the his- 
torian to record. The heart sickens at the contempla- 
tion of so much depravity. Whj^ are so much pains 
taken to make us hate the name of Englishman ? This 
is far from being the wish of Americans, Such conduct 
is not to be accounted for, unless it proceeds from a deep- 
ly rooted hatred on the part of the British government. 
\Ve know that pains have been taken to cherish in the 
minds of the people of England, a contempt for our na- 
tional character ; we know that hired calumniators have 
represented us as a savage race, to whom the courtesies 
of civilized life cannot be extended, because they cannot 
be reciprocal. These things must have an end, or a daj 
of terrible retribution will come at last. 

The news of this melancholy affair soon after reached 
general Harrison, who was on his march with reinforce- 
ments to general Winchester. He had heard with cha- 
grin the movements of that officer, and apprehensive of 
the consequence, had ordered a detachment of three hun- 
dred men, under major Cotgreves, from general Perkins* 
brigade of Ohio militia, to march to his relief. Hearing 
of the disaster, they fell back upon the Rapids, where 
general Harrison was then stationed, who retreated to 



HISTORY OF T|iE AVAR. Ill 

Carrying river, for the purpose of forming a junction with 
the troops in the rear, and favouring the convoy of artil- 
lery and stores then coming from Upper Sandusky, He 
first, however, despatched a chosen body of one hundred 
and seventy men for the purpose of picking up such of 
the unfortunate fugitives as might have escaped. The 
number of these was very small, on account of the depth 
of the snow, which rendered it almost impossible for them 
to make their way. Governour Meigs having promptly 
despatched two regiments to the assistance of Harrison, 
who again advanced to the Rapids, and immediately set 
about constructing a fort, which in honour of the gover- 
nour of Ohio, he named Fort Meigs. Fortifications were 
at the same time constructed at Upper Sandusky by ge- 
neral Cooks, who commanded the Pennsylvania militia. 
Excepting some parties on excursions, nothing additional 
transpired during the severe winter months. The move- 
ment of general Winchester had considerably deranged 
the plans of Harrison ; and it was necessary to organize 
a new system. He returned to Ohio, for the purpose of 
obtaining an additional force from that state, and Ken- 
tucky. Towards the beginning of April, he received in- 
formation which hastened his return to Fort Meigs. 

The enemy for some time past, had been collecting in 
considerable numbers, for the purpose of laying siege to 
this place ; and as the new levies had not arrived, the 
Pennsylvania brigade, although its term of service had 
expired, generously volunteered for the defence of the 
fort. Immediately on his arrival, general Harrison set 
about making preparations for the approaching siege — 
The fort was situated upon a rising ground, at the dis- 
tance of a few hundred yards from the river, the country 
on each side of which is chiefly natural meadows. The 
garrison was well supplied with the means of defence, 
and Harrison, with unremitted exertions, laboured night 
and day, to improve its capacity for resisting the siege. 
The assistance of captains Wood and Gratiot, his prin- 
cipal engineers, enabled him to put in practice whatever 
was necessary to improve his fortifications. The troops 
in the fort, to tlie number of twelve hundred, the greater 



112 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

part volunteers, were in high spirits, and determined to 
defend themselves to the utmost. On the twenty -eighth, 
one of the parties constantly kept out for the purpose of 
noting the advance of the enemy, reported that he was 
in great force about three miles below. A few British 
and Indians showed themselves on the opposite side; but 
a few shot ft om an eighteen pounder, compelled them to 
retire. A despatch was now sent to hasten the march of 
geneial Clay, who was approaching with twelve hundred 
militia frorn Kentucky. These brave people, so much 
surfcrers during the war, were ever the foremost to meet 
dr ,Ter, and the first to fly to the relief of their friends. 
(Jii trie three following days, the enemy was occupied in 
selecting the best positions on eith r side of the river} 
around the fort, whence it might be annoyed, and in 
erecting battehries on the opposite side ; in the latter, 
th'^y were cons'derably impeded by the fire from Fort 
Mt^igs; but they usually availed themselves of the night, 
to proceed in the work. A fire of small arms had been 
kopt up by them, which was returned by the American 
artillery, but without any loss of importance on either 
sivie. 

The garrison suffered somewhat from want of water, 
their well not being completed ; and it was attended with 
great risk to obtain their supply during the night from 
the river. The perpetual vigilance necessary to be ob- 
served, to guard against a surprise, by lying constantly 
on their arms, was calculated to wear them down. On 
the first of May, the enemy had succeeded in mounting 
his batteries, and opened a fire with one twenty-four 
pounder, one twelve, one six. and one howitzer. No ma- 
terial injury was done on either side : the commander 
in chief made a narrow escape, a ball having struck a 
bench on which he was sitting ; and some days before, a 
man was mortally wounded by his side. On the third, 
an additional battery was opened, at the distance of two 
hundred and fifty yards from the fort, mounted with a 
mortar, and a number of bombs were thrown ; but this 
was several times silenced. In this part of the siege, 
major Chambers approached the fort with a flag, and for 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 113 

tlie 'first time, summoned the place to surrender. He 
stated, that the British commander was desirous ofspav" 
ing the effusion of human blood, that his force was so im- 
mense that it would be impossible to withstand it ; and 
that, unless the Americans threw themselves at once upon 
the tender mercy of Proctor, they might expect to be 
massacred in cold blood. This summons was received 
by Harrison, with the contempt and indignation it merit- 
ed. To look for mercy from the hands of Proctor, yet 
reeking from the murder of the Kentuckians, at the river 
Raisin, would have been imbecility indeed ; and if he 
. had not been able to restrain the Indians then, how could 
he now ; when, according to his own account, the num- 
ber of Indians collected, was greater than had ever been 
known. The commander expressed his surprise, that 
the garrison had not been summoned before ; tliis at least 
implied they thought him resolved to do his duty : and 
that as to the number of his force, which he represented 
as of such unusual magnitude, it was a trick which he 
perfectly understood. He then requested major Cham- 
bers to return for answer to general Proctor, that while 
he had the honour to command an American fort, it should 
never surrender to a combined force of British and In- 
dians. 

The siege was renewed with great vigour, and the fir* 
ing was hotly kept up on both sides. The Indians mount- 
ed on trees at some distance from the fort, fired into it, 
and killed and wounded several. On 4;he fifth, a small 
party from the advancing corps under general Clay, 
reached the fort with the information, that he was in his 
boats not many miles above. Orders were instantly des- 
patched by the commantler in chief to the general, re- 
quiring him to detach eight hundred men for the purpose 
of landing on the opposite side, and destroying the ene- 
my's batteries ; and in the meanwhile he projected a 
sortie against those on the side of the fort, under the 
command of lieutenant colonel Miller, of the I9th (J. S. 
infantry. This simultaneous attack was well planned ; 
should it succeed, the enemy would be instantly compell- 
ed to raise the siege. Colonel Dudley, who was cl^rged 
10* 



114 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

with the execution of the order by general Clay, landed 
his men in good order, and then advanced on the enemy's 
cannon. The four batteries were carried in an instant, 
and the British regulars and Indians compelled to take to 
flight. A large body of Indians, under the celebrated 
Tecumseh, was on their march to the British camp, when 
they met the fugitives ; this body was instantly ordered 
to form an ambush; and wait the approach of the Ameri- 
cans : and, to decoy them, a few Indians shewed them- 
selves out of the woods, as if to renew the action. Colonel 
Dudley having executed his orders, commanded a retreat ; 
but his men, flushed with victory, and roused with the 
desire of revenging their slaughtered countrymen, push- 
ed forward with irresistible impetuosity. Their comman- 
der in vain attempted to check their career ; he even 
turned his espontoon against them ; but nothing could 
restrain them. In a few moments, they found them- 
selves surrounded by three times their number. A despe- 
rate^ght now ensued, which was followed by a slaughter of 
the Kentuckians, almost as terrible as that at the river Rai- 
sin, though not to the same extent after the battle. The 
chief who now commanded, was of a much more gener- 
ous character than Round Head or Proctor ; and even on 
the field of battle personally interposed to save those 
who yielded. But one hundred and fifty made their 
escape ; the rest were either killed or missing. Colonel 
Dudley attempted to cut his way through to the river j 
but was killed, having himself slain an Indian after he 
was mortally wounded. The other party, under general 
Clay, landed upon the side of the fort, and was near be- 
ing drawn in like manner into an ambush, when geneial 
Harrison ordered a troop of horse to sally out and cover 
their retreat. 

The impetuosity of colonel Dudley's party, in some 
measure, disconcerted the plan of the sortie under colonel 
Miller. Notwithstanding this, he sallied forth at the iiead 
of three hundred men, assaulted the whole line of their 
works, manned by three hundred and fifty regulars and 
five hundred Indians, and after several brilliant charges, 
drove the enemy from their principal bMt«rieS; spiked the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 115 

cannon, and returned to the fort with forty -two prisoners. 
The first charge was made on the Canadians and Indians 
by major Alexander's battalion ; the second by colonel 
Miller, against the regulars; the officers of these, were 
Croghan, Langham, Bradford, a gallant officer, Nearin^, 
and lieutenant Cainpbill, and a company of Kentucki- 
ans, commanded by captain Sabrie, who had distin- 
guished himself in the battle of French-town : this compa- 
ny was particularly remarked ; it maintained its ground 
with unshaken firmness, at one time, against four times 
their numbers ; they were entirely surrounded, and 
would have been cut off, had not lieutenant Gwynne, of 
the 19th, charged the enemy, and released them. 

A cessation of hostilities took place during the three 
following days ; flags frequently passed between the be- 
siegers and the besieged, and arrangements were enter- 
ed into for the exchange of prisoners. Tecumseh agreed 
to release his claim to the persons taken by the Indians, 
provided souie VVyandots, to the number of forty, were 
delivered up ; and Proctor promised to furnish a list of 
'the killed, wounded, and prisoners ; with this, however, 
he never complied. On the ninth, the enemy appeared 
to be engaged in making preparations for raising the 
siege ; a schooner, and some gun-boats had been brought 
up during the night, for the purpose of embarking their 
artillery ; a few shot from the fort compelled them to re- 
linquish this design, and at ten o'clock, they raised the 
siege, and moved off with their whole force. 

Thus terminated a siege of thirteen days, in which 
our enemies were taught, that in future they must ex- 
pect to meet with resistance different from that which 
they had experienced from Hull; and that, if they 
should succeed in taking an American garrison, it must 
be after severe fighting. The loss of the Americans in 
the fort, was eighty-oue killed, and one hundred and 
eighty-nine wounded. The loss of (he Kentuckians, as 
usual, was much the most severe, having upwards of se- 
venty killed and wounded, besides the l«ss under co- 
lonel Dudley. This officer was much regretted ; fevr 
men in Kentucky were more generally esteemed 5 his 



116 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

body, after much search, was found unburied, and horri- 
bly mangled. He was interred, together with some ol 
his companions, with the honours of war. 

The force under general Proctor was reported at five 
hundred and fifty regulars, eight hundred militia, and 
at least fifteen hundred Indians, who fought with great 
courage, and, on several occasions, rescued their ailie? 
in the sorties from the garrison. On the day of the last 
affair, Tecumseh arrived in person, with the largest 
body of Indians that had ever been collected on the 
northern frontier ; and had not the sortie taken place, itj 
is probable the situation of the army would have been 
extremely critical. The Indians, after tlie battle, accord- 
ing to the custom which prevails amongst there, had re- 
turned to their villages in spite of the exertions of Te- 
cumseh, and his subordinate chiefs. Thus weakenedg 
Proctor was obliged precipitately to retreat, leaving be- 
hind many valuable articles, which in his haste he was 
unable to carry away. Besides the American officers 
already named, there were many others who distinguish- 
ed themselves ; major Ball, an active officer, who was 
frequently complimented in general orders, rendered 
great service during the siege ; captain Croghan, on one 
occasion made a brilliant sortie on the British regulars ; 
majors Todd, Johnson, Sedwick, Ritzen, and Stoddard, 
were mentioned in the most honourable terms ; the latter 
a man of distinguished literary attainment ; he received a 
severe wound of which he afterwards died. Captain 
Butler's Pittsburgh blues, which behaved so handsomely 
at the battle of Mississiniwa, composed chiefly of young 
gentlemen of Pittsburg, suffered severely ; the accom- 
plished young officer who commanded them, was a son of 
the lamented general Butler, who fell in St. Clair's de- 
feat. It would be in vain, on this occasion, to enumerate 
all who deserved the applauses of their country. 

After the siege of Fort Meigs, offensive operatiens 
were for a considerable time suspended on either side. 
Until the completion of the naval preparations on lake 
Erie, which were then in considerable forwardness, the 
troops were to remain at Fort Meigs, and Uppex San- 
d¥isky. Without the commaA^ of the lake, little of con» 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 117 

sequence could be effected ; the troops would, therefore, 
continue a great part of the summer in a state of inac- 
tivity, awaiting this event. Jn the mean time general 
Harrison returned to Franklinton, for the purpose of or- 
ganizing the forces expected to concentrate at that place. 
A. deputation from all the Indian tribes residing in the. 
tate of Ohio, and some in the territories of Indiana and 
[llmois, made a tender of their services to follow general 
Harrison into Canada. Hitherto, with the exception of a 
mall band commanded by Logan, a distinguished chief 
md nephew of Tecumseh, none of the friendly Indians 
lad been employed by the United States. The advice to 
remain neutral, could not be understood by them ; they 
:onsidered it in some measure a reproach upon their 
:ourage, more particularly, as several hostile incursions 
lad been made of late into their settlements by the hos- 
tile Indians ; note the death of Logan. General Harri- 
son consented to receive them into the service ; but ex- 
pressly on conditi.m, that they should spare their prison- 
ers and not assail defenceless women and children. 

Although the settled parts of the couijtry were shield- 
ed from the depredations of the Indians, they still con- 
tinued to attack the settlements alop.g the borders of the 
ake, from Frenchtown to Erie. TJiese inroads receiv- 
ed a temporary check, from a squadron of horse under 
najor Ball. This officer was descending the Sandusky 
ivith twenty-two men, when he was fired upon, by about 
the same number of Indians in ambuscade. He charged 
ipon them, drove them from their hiding places, and af- 
ter an obstinate contest on the plair^, favourable for the 
iJperations of cavalry, he first killed their chiefs ; the 
savages seeing no hope of escape contended with dread- 
ful fury until the whole I)and was destroyed. During the 
leat of the fight the major was dismounted, and had a 
personal conflict with a chief of prodigious strength, and 
they fought with desperation, until an officer shot the 
Indian. 

We now return to the operations of our armies on the 
Northern frontiers, events of a very important character 
fiaving transpired in t!iat quarter, since the winter, bj 
which hostilities had been suspended, 



118 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER Vn. 

British preparations In Canada — Incursion of Forsytfee — Atta< 
on Ogdensburgh — The taking' of York and death of Pike-^ 
Taking of Fort George — Battle of Stoney Greek, and captut 
of generals Chandler and Winder- General Brown defen< 
Sackett*s Harbour — Resignation of general Dearborne — Tl 
town of Sodus attacked — Battle of the Beaver Dams — Secoi| 
takingof York— British devastate the borders of Lake Chad 
plain — Cruise of commodore Chauncey. 

During the winter, Great Britain had sent a numbc 
of troops to Halifax, for the purpose of being employee 
in the spring, in the defence of Canada. The recer 
success of the allies on the continent, had taken awa 
any disposition she might have had for a peace, as wi 
clearly proved by the rejection of the Russian mediatioi 
The militia of Canada was disciplined with great can. 
and from the greater energy of the British governmenj 
it was enabled to bring them more promptly into servici 
and to retain them for a longer term ; whereas, durin* 
the past year, from tlie war being unpopular, it was di , 
ficult to prevail on the state authorities to call out th' 
militia ; and volunteers, by which the war to the wesi 
ward was so spiritedly carried on, come forward, in th| 
northern section of the union, in but small numbers 
It was still hoped that such preparations would be mad* 
during the w^inter, as would lead to something ofmor; 
importance than had been done the year before, althoug 
the golden moment for the conquest of Canada had pass| 
ed, the British having so strenghtened themselves, as t 
render the execution of such a project, a matter of extrem' 
difficulty. It w as thought, however, that by one mor 
vigorous eifort, particularly if the spirit of the Northenl 
States could be roused, and the nation be made to mov [ 
forth in its strength, something yet might be effected 
If a complete command could be obtained on the lakee 
the whole of upper Canada, at least, must fall befor 
winter. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ll§ 

A imitual exchange of prisoners had taken place, and 
irrangements were entered into, to effect this in future ; 
)y which means some valuable officers, taken in the first 
campaign, were restored. The troops, inlisted in the 
nidland and northern states, were marched to the fron- 
[ier, and all the necessary supplies and munitions of 
ivar were assiduously collected at the different posts 
ilong the line. Excepting some partizan offairs, nothing 
)f consequence transpired during the winter. 

In the month of February, a party of the enemy, who 
;rossed, in search of some of their deserters, committed 
many wanton depredations on the houses and property 
)f the inhabitants. Major Forsythe, who commanded at 
Dgdensburgh, resolved to return the visit. Taking a 
aart of his riflemen, and such volunteers as offered, some 
if whom were private gentlemen of the neighbourhcod, 
le crossed the St. Lawrence, surprised the guard at 
jElizabeth-town, took fifty-two prisoners, among whom 
Were one major, three captains, and two lieutenants ; 
ind captured one hundred and twenty muskets, twenty 
•ifles, two casks of fixed ammunition, and other publick 
property. He then returned, without the loss of a single 
nan. 

Soon after, it was discovered that the British medi- 
:ated an attack on Ogdensburgh. Colonel Benedict called 
mt his militia, to aid in the defence of the place. The 
British appeared on the 21st of February, with twelve 
lundred men. This force, so much superiour to that of 
?orsythe, succeeded in expelling him from the town, 
mt not without a sharp conflict. The British attacked 
n two columns, of six hundred men each, at eight o'clock 
n the morning, and were commanded by captain M'Don- 
lel, of the Glengary light infantry, a corps trained wHh 
)eculiar care, and colonel Frazer of the Canada niilitia. 
rhe Americans kept up the contest for an hour, with the 
|oss of twenty men killed and wounded ; and from the 
jjool and deliberate aim of tlie riflemen, the enemy must 
jiave lost twice that number, among whom were five 
t)fficers of distinction. A flourish was made by the 
JBritish of this affair, which, judging by what it cost them. 



120 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

they regarded as a great victory ; and in consequence . 
message was sent with the news to colonel M»Feely,coi|- 
manding the American garrison of Niagara, informi 
him that a salute would be fired from Fort George. T 
American officer expressed his satisfaction at bein^ alj 
to return the complement, as he had just received mt^ 
ligence of the capture of his majesty's frigate Java, It 
an American frigate of equal force ; and intended to fij 
a salute from Niagara, at the same time, in honour of tlj 
brilliant victory. 

Bodies of new levies were daily arriving at Sacketi 
Harbour, and the vicinity of that place. To conve 
new recruits, in the course of a few months, into ef 
cient troops, was not an operation easily performed. 11 
defatigable industry was displayed, in this essential dut 
by Pike, lately promotefl to the rank of a brigadier, ] 
consequence of his meritorious services, and increasir! 
reputation. Pike was almost cradled in the camp ; 
father, a revolutionary officer, was still in the army but t( 
far advanced in life tor active service. He was acquain 
ed with all the details of the military profession, havir; 
served in every grade from a soldier to the general, t 
possessed an ardent mind, and was highly animated by 
desire of martial glory and renown. Pike was alread 
a favourite in the United States, and distinguished as or 
of the adventurous explorers of the immense Western d 
sert. He had here given proofs of much fortitude of mini 
vigour of body, and great prudence and$intelligence. H 
zeal and activity were afterwards conspicuous, in t\ 
success with which he formed the regiment placed undf| 
his command. He v/as beloved by his troops, whom hi 
knew how to engage, and into whom he could infuse >, 
portion of his own generous spirit. It is not surprising 
therefore, that the progress made by the troops at Sacf . 
ett's Harbour, under the unceasing attention of this acj 
complished officer, should be unusually rapid. Nothinf 
was wanting but an opportunity, on opening of the canM 
paign, to lead them to the achievement of some gloritra 
exploit l| 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 121 

This opportunity was not long in presenting itself. 
The lake was no sooner clear of ice, than a descent on 
the Canada shore was projected. York, the capital of 
Upper Canada, was the depot of all the British military 
stores, whence the Western posts were supplied. It 
was known that a large vessel was on the stocks, and 
nearly completed. The importance of the place to either 
party was immense ; and should an attack on it prove 
successful, it might be followed up by an immediate 
attack upon Fort George ; the forces then concentrating, 
and aided by the fleet, might, with every prospect of 
succe*ss, move against Kingston. 

About the middle of April, the commander in chief, 
in conference with Pike and other officers, determined 
on attacking York. Major Forsythe, who had return- 
ed to Ogdensburg on the retreat of the British, was 
ordered with his riflemen to repair to Sackett's Har- 
bour ; and commodore Chauncey received orders from 
the Navy Department, to co-operate with general Dear- 
borne, in any plan of operations which he mi^ht wish to 
carry into execution. On the 25th of April, the fleet 
moved down the Lake, every arrangement having been 
made for the projected attack. The plan, which had been 
principally suggested by Pike, was highly judicious, and 
at his particular request, the commander in chief intrust- 
ed him with its execution. On the 27th, at two o'clock, 
the fleet safely reached the place of debarkation. This 
commenced at eigh4 o*clock, and was completed at ten. 
The spot flxed on for this purpose was an open space at 
the ruins of Torento, the former site of the fort, about 
two miles above the present town of York. The British, 
on discovering the fleet, hastily made the necessary dispo- 
sitions to oppose the landing of the American forces. 
General Sheafle advanced from the garrison, which was 
situated above York, with his whole force, consisting of 
about seven hundred and fifty regulars and militia, and 
five hundred Indians, besides a body of grenadiers, and 
a corps of Glengary fencibles. The Indians were placed 
in the thickets at the water's edge, near the expected 
points of debarkation, while the regulars were drawn up 
U 



i£2 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

on the bank, and partly concealed in a wood. In pur- 
suance of the plan of attack, the batteaux carrying For- 
sythe and his riflemen, first moved to the shore ; this 
appeared to be at the point where the principal force of 
the enemy was stationed. A galling fire of musketry 
and rifles was instantly opened on him. To have gone 
higher up would have deranged the general plan ; he de- 
termined to dash at once into the thickest of the enemy ; 
but first ordered the oars to cease a moment, that he 
might give his riflemen an opportunity of returning the 
fire. 

Pike, who was attentively watching this movement, 
observed the pause, and not knowing its reason, in- ii 
stantly leaped into the boat provided for himself and |i 
his staft*, at the same time ordering major King to follow, ! 
with a part of his regiment. Before he reached the ' 
shore, however, Forsythe had landed, and was closely 
engaged with the whole British force. The detachment 
under King, consisting of the light artillery under major 
Eustice, a volunteer corps commanded by col. M'CIure, 
and about thirty riflemen under lieutenant Riddle, now 
landed ; and Pike, placing himself at the head of those 
first formed, ordered the rest to follow rapidly; then 
gallantly ascended the bank with his handful of men, 
under a shower of bullets from the grenadiers. He 
charged impetuously upon them ; they were thrown intof^ 
disorder and fled. This had scarcely been achieved,!; 
when the bugles of Forsythe announ^d that he had alsoj;, 
been victorious ; the Glengary fencibles still kept up anjs 
irregular fire, but the Indians li^d fled. A fresh body of 
grenadiers now suddenly issued from the wood, an( 
made a desperate charge on major King's regiment,| 
which by this time was drawn up on the bank ; at first it 
faultered ; but in a moment was rallied, returned to th< 
charge, and drove the enemy from the field. The Brit- 
ish w ere again seen forming at a distance ; but consider 
able reinforcements having by this time landed from the 
fleet, and formed in column, the British retreated to th€ 
garrison below. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 123 

The whole of the troops having now arrived, they were 
formed in the order contemplated in the plan of attack. 
The different bodies of troops under majors Lewis and 
Eustice, and colonels M'Clure and Ripley, were dispos- 
ed in the most judicious manner, while Forsythe and his 
riflemen were to act on the flanks. The column then 
moved forward with the utmost precision, and v/ith as 
much regularity as the nature of the ground would permit, 
until they emerged from the wood, when a twenty-four 
PQunder opened upon them from one of the enemy's 
batteries. The battery was soon cleared, and the co- 
lumn moved on to the second, which was abandoned on 
the approach of the Americans, the enemy retreating 
to the garrison. General Pike here ordered the column 
to halt, for the purpose of learning the strength of the 
garrison, and obtaining further information ; as the 
barracks appeared to have been evacuated, he suspect- 
ed a stratagem, to draw him within the reach of some 
secret force. Lieutenant Riddle was sent forward to 
learn the situation of the enemy. In the mean while, the 
heroick Pike, as humane as he was brave, occupied himself 
in removing a wounded British soldier from a dangerous 
situation, and after having performed this act of humani- 
ty, which speaks volumes in his favour, he was calmly 
seated on the stump of a tree, in conversation with a 
Serjeant, who had been taken prisoner, when suddenly 
the air was convulsed by a tremendous explosion. The 
magazine, at the distance of two hundred yards, near 
the barracks, had blown up. The air was instantly filled 
with huge stones and fragments of wood, rent asunder 
and whirled aloft by the exploding of five hundred bar- 
rels of powder. This was the treacheorus attack which 
the British had prepared, but which Pike could not have 
suspected. Immense quantities of these inflamed and 
blackened masses fell in the midst of the victorious 
column, causing a frightful havock, which the arms of 
their enemies could not effect, killing and wounding up- 
wards of two hundred, and amongst them their beloved 
commander, the heroick Pike. The brave troops, though 
for a moment confounded by tlie shock, were soon called 



124 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

to their recollection by the national musick, Yankee 
Doodle. The column was instantly closed up, and they 
rent the air, in their turn, with three loud huzzas ! 

The wound of Pike, a severe contusion, was soon found 
to be mortal ; he still, however, preserved his undaunted 
spirit ; " move on my brave fellows, and revenge your 
general,'* he cried, addressing them for the last time. 
They instantly obeyed. He was then taken up by some of 
his men, to be conveyed on board the ship ; scarcely had 
he reached the shore of the Lake, when a loud and victo- 
rious shout from his brigade brightened, for a moment, 
the expiring lamp of life ; a faint sigh was all his strength 
would permit him to express. Shortly after his being 
carried on board the Pert, the British flag was brought 
to him ; at sight of it, his eye again resumed its lustre 
for a moment, and making signs for it to be placed un- 
der his head, he gloriously expired. Thus fell, a war- 
riour who will live with honour in the page of history. 
Brave, prudent, and chivalrous, he was adorned with 
that moral excellence which is essential to the accom- 
plished soldier and the real hero. Thus falling in the 
very day-spring of life, we can but feebly anticipate) 
what the ripened age of so much promise would bringp 
forth. He was amiable in all the domestick relations of 
life, strictly observant of the duties of morality and reli-: 
gion ; he was a sincere patriot, whose chief ambition wasij 
to give distinction to his country. With him the Sci-ij 
pios of antiquity were no fables ; and the fate, as wellj 
as character of Montgomery, whose name he bore, were 
truly his own. No officer ever#ntertained a more refinJ 
ed and perfect sense of honourable warfare ; asaprooli 
of it, are the orders which he gave this memorable day, 
that any of his soldiers who should molest the possessions 
or persons of the inhabitants, or wantonly destroy th€ 
publick property, should suffer instant death. It is dif 
licult to say whether such men are actuated by the pre- 
vailing sentiments of their country, or whether they 
give an original tone to its manners and habits of think! 
ing : certain it is, that both in our army and navy, ' 
species of refined honour and generosity has uniformi 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 125 

manifested itself, in striking contrast with the conduct 
of our enemy, who has elsewhere exhibited the noblest 
traits, but who seems to consider this new world, too 
contemptible a theatre on which to appear with any dig- 
nity of character. 

On the fall of general Pike, the command devolved on 
colonel Pearce, who advanced to the barracks, which he 
found already in the possession of Forsythe ; the enemy 
having retreated to the fort. There being now no person 
acquainted with the plan of the invasion but the com- 
mander in chief, the enemy was not immediately pursu- 
ed ; otherwise the whole of the regulars and publick 
stores, must have fallen into our hands. The Americans, 
after halting a short time, moved on towards the town ; 
and drawing near it were met by officers of the Can- 
ada militia, with offers of capitulation. This produced 
some delay ; but it being suspected that it was only in- 
tended to facililate (he escape of general Sheaffe and the 
principal part of ids regulars, and to gain time while they 
could destroy the military stores, and burn the vessel on 
the stocks, Forsythe and Ripley pushed forward, and 
were soon after followed by Fcarce. The strictest ob- 
servance of Pike's order, with respect to the treatment of 
the inhabitants and their property, was enjoined. At 
four o'clock the Americans were masters of the town. 
Although with just right they might be enraged at the 
conduct of the British, as well for their barbarous and 
unmanly attempt to destroy them by a mine, as their 
amusing them under the pretence of discussing the stip- 
ulation of surrender, the troops conducted themselves 
with the most perfect order and forbearance ; perhaps 
considering this the best testimonial of respect for their 
brave leader. The stipulations of surrender were en- 
tered into with colonel Pearce, at the very moment 
I the British were engaged in the destruction of the pub 
^lick property. By the terms of the stipulation, the troops,, 
regulars and njilitia, naval officers and seamen, were sur- 
rendered prisoners of war ; all the publick stores were 
given up, and all private property was to be guaranteed 
to the citizens of York : every tlung relating to the civil 
11* 



126 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

departments should be respected ; and the surgeons, at- i 
tending on the wounded, should not be considered as 
prisoners of war. 

On entering the house appropriated for the sittings of 
the legislature, a discovery was made, which cannot 
be spoken of without feelings of indignation. Among 
the regal trophies, a human scalp was found over the 
mace, near the Speaker's chair ! Other nations have en- 
deavoured to civihze the Indians, by inducing them to 
imitate the manners of the Europeans 5 the officers of 
the British government alone have taken pains to pam- 
per their savage propensities, not merely by indulgence, 
but by adopting their horrid customs. A human scalp to 
be hung up as a trophy, in the legislative hall of a civilized 
and christian people ! Can we now wonder at the brutali- 
ty with which the war was conducted towards us ? Had 
the eloquent and virtuous Chatliam lived to have seen this 
day, what must he have thought of the degradation of his 
countrymen ! Would he not have renounced the name of 
Briton, thus scandalized, by all that is profane and inde- : 
cent ? Would he not think his country sunk below the 
level of civilized nations, in so far setting at naught the 
precepts of religion and humanity, as to mingle with her 
vegal trophies, the detestable symbol of cruelty, which I 
disgraces even the savage ? Can these things be coun- 
tenanced by the enlightened Englishmen, whose fame, 
whose writings, receive a second life in this country ; or 
will he not disbelieve that his countrymen can be guil- 
ty of such atrocities ? For we, who have seen and felt 
them, could not otherwise have believed that a people, who ) 
display so many virtues both in peace and war, should 
thus forget what belongs to the character of christian men. 
It seems then, whatever their conduct may be on the 
wther side of the Atlantic, that in this new world, and toi^ii 
this youthful nation, tliey would say, by the horrible sym-i 
i)ol of the scalp, that they have renounced all that is res 
pectable among civilized men, while we are endeavour- 1(| 
ing to emulate the actions of those illustrious Englishmen, 
whose fame their degenerate sons have (Jisgraced. ill 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. * 127 

Notwithstanding the ample cause of rage, in the dis- 
covery of this additional proof of the disposition of their 
enemies, the soldieiy was perfectly restrained from 
committing any acts of violence ; they marched to the 
barracks the same evening, with the exception of the 
riflemen, who remained in town. No part of the housv'i 
in which the detested scalp was found, underwent any 
injury from them ; nothing was carried away except the 
odious trophy and the Speaker's mace. So far from in- 
flicting any injury on the inhabitants, a considerable 
portion of the publick stores, which could not easily be 
transported, were distributed among them, and they ex- 
pressed themselves highly satisfied with the conduct of 
the Americans. The principal civil offices of the place 
addressed a letter of thanks to general Dearborne, for the 
strict regard which was manifested by the troops under 
his command, for the safety of the persons and property 
of the inhabitants. 

The commander in chief landed soon after the fall of 
Pike, but did not assume the immediate command until 
after the surrender of the town. 

Great assistance was rendered during the engagement 
by the co-operation of commodore Chauncey, alter land- 
ing the troops. The vessels, in consequence of a con- 
trary wind, were compelled to beat up to their several 
positions with great difliculty, and under a heavy fire 
from the batteries. When this was effected, they open- 
ed a galling and destructive fire, which contributed much 
to the success of the attack. In the squadron, three were 
killed and eleven wounded; among the first midship- 
men Thompson and Hatfield, both much regretted. 

The loss on the American side was inconsiderable un- 
til the explosion of the infernal machine, wliich caused 
it to amount to three hundred in k*lled and wounded. 
Several officers of merit were killed or v/ounded by the 
explosion. The aids of the general, captains Nicholson 
and Fiazieif were wounded ; the first proved instantly 
mortal : afeo. captain Lyon, captain Hoppock, lieutenant 
Bloomfield, and many other valuable officers. Much 
praise was bestowed on lieutenant colonel Mitchell, of the 



128 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

third regiment of artillery, who formed the column after 
the explosion, and throughout the whole of the affair par- 
ticularly distino;uished himself. Major Eustice, captains 
Scott, Young, Walworth, M'Glassin, and Stephen H. 
Moore of the i^altimore volunteers, who lost a leg by the 
explosion ; Lieutenants Irvine, Fanning and Riddle, 
were named among the most distinguished of the da^. 

There were taken from the British, one lieutenant- 
colonel, one major, thirteen captains, nine lieutenants, 
eleven ensigns, one deputy-adjutant-general, and four 
naval officers, and two hundred and fifty-one non-com- 
missioned officers and privates. But it was contended, 
tliat according'to the capitulation, the commanding gen- 
eral, his staff, and all his regulars, ought to have been sur- 
rendered. There was certainly an unfair procedure on 
the part of the British general, as well in this business, 
as in the destruction of the publick property, after it had 
been fairly surrendered. With respect to the explosion, 
it was attributed by general Sheaffe to accident ; and as 
a proof, he mentioned the circumstance of forty of his 
own men having been killed and wounded on the retreat. 
But the American officers, who witnessed the affair, were 
perfectly satisfied that it was designed. After the con- 
flict had entirely ceased for some time, and the maga- 
zine and ba'rracks entirely abandoned by the enemy, the 
American column at rest within three hundred yards, 
the occurrence of such an accident is almost impossible, i 
and leads to a conviction, that a match had been purpose- 
ly laid, intended to explode on the approach of the A- 
merican column ; wliich, but for the fortunate precaution 
of their commander, would have involved them in one 
general destruction. In further proof, we may adduce 
tlie fact, of an immense number of stones and a quantity 
of old iron, evidently collected for the express purpose 
of causing greater havock. It is certainly unjust, on 
light grounds, to impute to the British general, acts so 
dishonourable ; and but for this last circumst;^nce it might 
be regarded as the unauthorised act of some l^se indivi^ 
dual. The circumstance of a part of his own column 
having been overtaken by the stoi\^es propelled to an im- 



^ll 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 129 

niensc distance, has no weight in his exculpation : tliis 
may have proceeded from not having calculated with 
sufficient accuracy for their own safety, although nothing 
could have heen better timed for the complete d'estruc- 
tion of our gallant countrymen. Had the explosion taken 
place in the midst of the fight, there might then be room 
for supposition that it was the result of accident ; but, 
under the circumstances, that this should have been the 
case, appears next to impossible. The loss of the Bri- 
tish, amounted to seven hundred and fifty men in killed, 
wounded and prisoners ; of these, the killed and wound- 
ed were not short of two hundred ; the prisoners amount- 
ed to fifty regulars, and five hundred militia. Property 
to an immense amount was destroyed, and there still re- 
mained to the value of at least half a million of dollars : 
in his hasty retreat, general Sheaffe abandoned his bag- 
gage, containing all his books and papers, which proved 
a valuable acquisition. Upon the whole, the capture of 
York was a brilliant achievement, and worthy of Pike, its 
projector. It was the first dawn of that military dis- 
tinction, to which we afterwards so rapidly attained un- 
der the gallant ofiicers, whom the test of experience made 
known. 

The object of this expedition being now fully attained, 
the American forces evacuated York on the first of May, 
and embarked. The fleet, however, did not leave the 
harbour until the eighth. A schooner had in the mean 
time been despatched to Niagara, to inform general Lewis 
of the success of the expedition, and of the intended 
movement of the troops. 

The next thing to be undertaken, was the attack of 
Fort George and I'ort Erie, which had been unsuccessfully 
attempted the year before. Commodore Chauncey hav- 
ing the command of the lake, troops could be transported 
to any part with facility. On the evening of the eighth, 
the troops were landed at Four Mile Creek, so called, 
from being four miles distant from Niagara. The next 
day, two schooners, under the command of lieutenant 
Pettigrew, sailed with a detachment of one hundred men, 
commanded by captain Morgan of the 12th, for the pur- 



130 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

pose of destroying some of the enemy's stores at the head 
of the lake. On their approach, the guard, about eighty 
men, retired ; the publick buildings were burnt, and the 
party returned with the greater part of the property. On 
the tenth, commodore Chauncey sailed to Sackett's Har- 
bour, for the purpose of leaving the wounded men and 
officers, and of bringing such additional force as could be 
spared from that place. He again sailed on the twenty- 
second, leaving the Pert and the Fair American to watch 
the movements of the enemy. Two days afterwards he 
arrived safely at Niagara, with colonel M'Comb's regi^ 
ment of artillery, 350 men, and an additional number of 
guns. 

Arrangements were now made for carrying the con- 
templated enterprise into immediate operation. Com- 
mwdore Chauncey having, on the twenty-sixth, reconnoi- 
tred the opposite shore, and ascertained the best places 
for landing, and the stations for the smaller vessels to 
occupy ; the next morning was fixed upon for the attack, 
A number of boats were made ready ; and others, which 
})ad been building for the occasion, were launched in the 
afternoon ; this being observed by the enemy, a fire was 
opened upon the workmen, from a battery erected for the 
purpose nearly opposite. This brought on a severe can- 
nonade from the forts and batteries, which continued for 
some hours, and in which the Americans had the decided 
advantage. Fort George appeared to suffer considerable 
injury 5 the guns of the American battery were directed 
with so much precision, that the halyards of the flag-staff' 
were shot away. The buildings of every description 
around the fort were much damaged, while the loss on 
the American side was very inconsiderable. All the 
boats in the meanwhile passed safely to the encampment 
at Four Mile Creek : and as soon as it grew dark, the ar- 
tillery was put on board the Madison, the Oneida, and 
Lady of the Lake ; the troops were to embark in the 
boats and follow the fleet. At 3 o'clock in the mornino-, 
signal was made to weigh ; but in consequence of th~e 
calm which prevailed, the schooners were obliged to re- 
sort to sweeps to gain their stations. These consisted of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 131 

the Julia, Growler, Ontario, Governour Tompkins, Con- 
quest, Hamilton, Asp, and Scourge 5 each within musket 
shot of the shore, and skilfully disposed to attack the 
different batteries, and cover the landing of the troops. 
At day break, generals Dearborne and Lewis, and suits, 
went on boaril the Madison ; the troops being now all 
embarked, amounted to about four thousand men. The 
enemy's batteries immediately opened, as the troops ad- 
vanced in three brigades. The advance was led by that 
accomplished officer colonel Scott, who had so much 
signalized himself in this place the jear beloro and was 
composed of Forsythe's riflemen, and detachments from 
various infantry regiments : it landed near the fort, 
which had in the mean time been silenced by the Gover- 
nour Tompkins. General Boyd, to whom was assigned 
the brigade lately commanded by general Pike, formed 
the first line, flanked by the Baltimore and Albany vol- 
unteers under colonel M^Clure. He reached the shore 
immediately after the advance had landed. General 
Winder followed next, at the head of the second brigade, 
and was immediately followed by the third,^nder gener- 
al Chandler. The wind suddenly springing up from the 
east, and producing a considerable swell, the troops from 
the Madison and Oneida, could not reach shore until the 
second and third brigades had advanced ; M'Comb's re- 
giment, and the marines under captain Smith, therefore, 
did not reach shore until the debarkation had been com- 
pleted. 

The advance under Scott, consisting of five hundred 
men, on its approach to the shore, had been exposed to 
an incessant volley of musketry, from at least twelve 
hundred regulars, stationed in a ravine. This spirited 
corps, composed of the flower of the army, moved on with- 
out faultering, and for a few minutes returning the fire. 
As they drew near the shore, a surprising degree of emu- 
lation manifested itself both amongst officers and sol- 
diers ; many of them leaping into the lake, and wading 
to land. Captain Hindman, an accomplished young offi- 
cer of the second artillery, was the first on the enemy's 
territory. No sooner were the troops formed on the 



132 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

beach, than they were led to the charge, and instantly 
dispersed the enemy in every direction, some flying to 
the woods for shelter, and others seeking refuge in the 
fort. The first were briskly assailed by Forsythe, while 
the advanced corps and the first brigade, under general 
Boyd, vigorously attacked the latter. The prevailing 
panick had seized the garrison, which made but a feeble 
resistance. Fort Niagara, and the batteries on the A- 
merican side, opened at the same time; and Fort George, 
now being untenable, the British laid trains to their ma- 
gazines, and retreated with precipitation, having aban- 
doned all the works, and pursuing different routs. Colo- 
nel Scott and his light troops were closely in their rear, 
when he was recalled by general Boyd. Lieutenant Rid- j 
die, with his party, not receiving the order, followed the 
enemy almost to Queenstown, and picked up a number 
of stragglers. The light troo|>s took possession of Fort 
George ; captains Hindman and Stockton entering first, 
and extinguishing the fire intended to explode the maga- 
zine ; the former withdrew a match at the imn.inent ha- 
zard of his life. General Boyd and colonel Scott mount- 
ed the parapet for the purpose of cutting away the staff; 
but Hindman succeeded in takitig the flag, which he for- 
warded to general Dearborne, and which was immediate- 
ly replaced by the American ensign, while the troops were 
ordered in and quartered. At twelve o'clock the whole 
of the British fortifications on this shore were in posses- 
sion of the Americans. The enemy had moved off with 
such rapidity, that in a short time nothing more of them 
was to be seen ; and our troops, having been eleven hours 
under arms, were too much fatigued to pursue them far. 
The loss of the British in this affair, considering the time 
which the contest lasted, was very considerable. They 
had one hundred and eight killed, and one hundred and 
sixty wounded, who fell into our hands; they besides 
lost one hundred and fifteen regulars, and five hundred 
militia, prisoners. The loss of the Americans was thirty 
nine killed, and one hundred and eight wounded ; among 
the former, lieutenant Hobart of the light artillery ; and 
of the latter, major King of the thirteenth, captains Ar- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 133 

rowsworth oftlie sixth, Steel of the sixteenth. Roach of 
the twenty-third, (who had been wounded the year be- 
fore at the heights of Queenstown, and was promoted to 
the rank of captain for his good conduct on that occasion,) 
and lieutenant Swearin2;en of the rifle corps. The forty- 
ninth, the British Invincibles, was in this affair, and its 
commander, colonel Myers, wounded and taken prisoner. 
The action, notwithstanding:, was fought on the Ameri- 
can side with inferiour numners, the advance and part of 
Boyd's brigade only having bt^en actually engaged. Short- 
ly after the surrender of the fort, the lake became so 
rough as to render the situation of the fleet somewhat dan- 
gerous. Commodore Chauncey, therefore, made signal 
to weigh ; and accordingly stood up tlie river, choosing a 
place of safety between the two forts, he there anchored. 
High praise was given both by the commodore, and 
general Dcarborne, to the forces under thoir respective 
commands. Scott and Boyd were particularly mention- 
ed ; the commander in chief also acknowledged himself 
much indebted to colonel M. Porter, of the light artillery, 
and to major Armistead, of the third regiment artillery, 
and to captain Totten of the engineers, for their skill in 
demolishing the enemy's forts and batteries. We here 
find the first mention of the hero of Lake Erie, lieutenant 
commandant Oliver H. Perry, who had volunteered his 
services on the night of tiie twenty-sixth, and had ren- 
dered great services in assisting in the arrangement and 
debarkation of the troops. Much of the success of the 
enterprise was owing to the judicious plan of commodore 
Chauncey, in attacking the different batteries of the ene- 
my with his vessels, and rendering them untenable. Gen- 
eral Dearborne had been much indisposed ; he continued 
to command regularly, issuing his orders from his bed. 
Lieutenant Perry was despatched the day after to Black 
Ro^k, with fifty men, for the purpose of taking five vessels 
to Erie as soon as possible, to aid in forming the squadron 
pr«?paring at that place, and which it was expected w^ould 
be ready by the fifteenth of June, to commence opera- 
,tions in conjunction with Harrison. 
. A few days afterwards, it was ^j^certained that theene- 

12 



134 HISTORY OF THE AVAR. 

my under general Vincent, had retired to the Beaver 
Dams, where he formed a junction with the command of 
lieutenant colonel Bishop from Fort Erie and Chippewa. 
The day after this was effected, the British general re- 
treated hastily to the upper end of Lake Ontario, and 
took a position on the heights at the head of Barlington i 
Bay, his force it was supposed, did not exceed a thousand j^ 
men. General Winder, at his request, was detached by ji 
the commander in chief, in pursuit, with his brigade. |j 
Having reached Twenty Mile Creek, on the second day's if 
march, the general received information, that the enemy ; 
had been reinforced by several hundred men from r 
Kingston ; that his force, besides Indians, aid a few v 
militia, might amount to fifteen hundred men : the gen- 
eral, in consequence, thought it prudent to despatch an 
officer ^o general Dearborne for an additional force, that 
under his command not exceeding twelve hundred infan- 
try, exclusive of the dragoons under colonel Burns, and 
Towson's artillery. He nevertheless continued his march ' 
to Forty Mile Creek, where selecting a good position, he ; 
proposed to wait the arrival of the expected reinforce- \. 
ment. This, consisting of Chandler's brigade, in a short 
time arrived, after a rapid march, and general Chandler 
beinp- the senior officer, assumed the command. 

On the same day, the united force proceeded to a rivu- 
let called Stoney Creek, where they encamped, having 
in the course of the afternoon skirmished with the ad- 
vance parties of the enemy, wiiich were driven in. In 
order to secure the baggage of the army, which had been 
conveyed in batteauxalong the lake shore, colonels Chris- 
tie and Bcerstler, with their respective regiments, the ISth 
and 14th, were detached, to take a position at the dis- 
tance of two Uiiles from the main body, on the neck of 
land which divides the lake from Burlington Bay, and 
on the road from Fort George to York and Kingston.! 
The distiiuceof the main body of the British was about 
eight miles. 

Tho 2;round occupied by general Chandler, was the 
high baiK of Stoney Creek, on the opposite side of which! 
theie was a suiall meadow, and the bank was much lower. : 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 155 

He halted immediately on the road, as the centre of his 
encampment. The 5th, a small detachment of tlie 23d, 
one company of the 16th infantry, occupied a height, a 
short distance on the left. The object of this was to 
prevent, in case of a nij^ht attack, the occupation of ground 
which commanded the road ; and at the same time, they 
could with facility be wheeled into line with tlie 25th 
along the high bank of the creek. The light artillery of 
captains Towson's and Leonard, was posted in the road 
immediately on the right of the last mentioned regiment, 
so as to command the road in the direction of the enemy. 
The cavalry, under colonel Burns, was placed in the rear, 
to be ready at a moment's warning. A guard of eighty 
or an hundred men, was posted a quarter of a mile in 
advance, at a wooden chapel on the road side. In other 
respects the usual precautions were taken. 

The situation of the British army was almost hopeless. 
To contend openly with the superiour force of the Ameri- 
cans, was out of the question. No possibility of escape 
remained but by marching through the thinly inhabited 
country towards Detroit ; and joining general Proctor ; 
or attempting the fortune of a night attack. The first, 
in their present deficiency of supplies, was considered al- 
most impracticable ; the latter was, therefore, resolved 
upon. The existence of this alternative could not have 
escaped the penetration of the American generals, and 
therefore the necessity of the utmost precaution. To the 
ultimate character of the campaign, the capture of the 
British would be of the greatest importance ; as the ne- 
cessary consequence, the contest to the westward would 

I terminate, for it would no longer be possible for Proctor 

j to hold out after his communication with the lower pro- 

j vinces had been cut off. 

Until late in the evening, the 25th had occupied the 

i meadow ground on the opposite side of the creek, where 
they had kindled fires for the purpose of cooking, but to- 
wards midnight were withdrawn to the position assigned 

I them on the brow of the high bank. These precautions 
had well nigh proved fruitless, from the unaccountable 
negligence and miseonduct of the main guard. Several 



136 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

of the sentinels in advance, were silently bayoneted by 
ths enemy, who pushed a column of seven or eight hun- 
dred men, passed the chapel whilst the guard must have 
been buried in sleep, since not a shot was fired by them. 
On approaching the fires made by the 25th, and which 
had not yet been extinguished, they raised a tremendous 
Indian yell, expecting no doubt to bayonet the Ameri- 
cans, whom they supposed to be asleep a few paces from 
them. This yell was most fortunate for the Amerieansj 
who were instantly roused on the opposite bank, and as 
the 25th had Iain on their arms, they instantly commenc- 
ed a heavy fire on the British, who were revealed by the 
fires which had deluded them. General Winder, who 
commanded the troops on the left of the road, succeeded 
in a few moments in stationing the greater part of them 
on the edge of the creek, to the left of the artillery, and 
joined his fire with that of the 25th, which was by this 
time returned by the enemy, though with little effect. In 
twenty minutes the firing on the part of the British ceas- 
ed, and as they had become invisible after passing the 
fires, the night being excessively dark, it was uncertain 
w^hether they had retired, or jneant under cover of the 
darkness, to attack with the biiyonet ; the firing on the 
part of the x'Vmericans, was also ordered to cease. Ar- 
rangements were rapidly made to receive them. At this 
moment some shots in the rear of the army induced the 
general, who was apprehensive that an attack might also 
be made in that quarter, to order one of the regiments to 
face about, and take such a position, as would enable him 
to repel it, whether made on flank or rear. Whilst gene- 
ral Chandler Mas directing these movements on the right, 
his horse fell under him ; after recovering somewhat from 
the fall which had stunned him, he attempted to walk to- 
wards the centre, near the artillery, where he and gene- 
ral Winder had met from time to time, to receive andj 
communicate information and orders. In the mean-j 
time, favoured by the excessive darkness, which had been 
increased by the smoke, the enemy stole along the road 
iinperceived, until they mingled with the artillerists, 
\vhom they drove from their pieces. At this moment 



■liL 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 187 

general Chandler found himself in the midst of the enemy, 
and was taken prisoner. 

General Winder, in returning from maintaining the 
dispositions on the left, met with apart of the l6th, which 
had either never reached its position, or had fallen back, 
and was posting it to protect the artillery, when, disco- 
vering some confusion there, he rushed forward to as- 
certain the cause, and was made prisoner in attempt- 
ing to turn back what he supposed to be the Ameri- 
can artillerists. The British finding two pieces limber- 
ed, drove them off, overturned one or two more, and re- 
treated with precipitation and disorder. Before clear day- 
light the enemy had, in his retreat, covered himself from 
the view of the Americans bj a wood. General Vin- 
cent was thrown from his horse, and did not rejoin his 
troops until the evening, almost exhausted with fatigue. 
Several gallant eftbrts were made, after the flight of the 
enemy, to recover the artillery. Lieutenant W. M'Don- 
ough prevented the capture of one piece, and lieutenant 
M'Ghesney another ; these officers, as well as colonel 
Burn, colonel Milton, captains Hind man, Archer, vSteel 
and Leonard, were highly complimented in general or- 
ders. • 

The American loss was sixteen killed, and thirty eight 
wounded, and two brigadiers, one major, three captains, 
and ninety -four missing The loss of the enemy was 
much more severe, particularly in officers; one hundred 
prisoners were taken. Blame was attached to general 
Chandler, who commanded, but with very little reason ; 
still less of general Winder, who only met wilji such mis- 
fortune as the bravest and most prudent are subject to. 
Had the enemy been immediately pursued, there is little 
doubt they would have fallen into our hands. Colonel 
Burn, on a consultation with the officers, judged it most 
prudent to fall back on Forty Mile Creek, where he was 
joined by colonel Miller's regiment, who had been sent 
to guard the boats, and generals Lewis and Boyd, the 
former now assuming the command. 

The British claimed in this affair a splendid victory. 
The accidental capture of the American generals would 
12^ 



ise HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

seem to give it the appearance of one ; but in the actios 
they were certainly beaten with great loss. Their ob- 
ject, however, was effected by the attack, though not to 
the extent which th«>y had anticipated. The credit of 
this affair has been justly given to colonel Harvey, who 
is said to be an elegant and accomplished officer. 

A flag having been sent into camp to obtain informa- 
tion of the killed and wounded, as also permission to bury 
the dead, but merely to obtain information, general Vin-' 
cent immediately despatched a messenger to sir James 
Yoe,advisinghimof the position of the Americans. On the 
eighth sir James, with his squadron, appeared abreast of 
the encampment, and within a mile of the shore. He at- 
tempted to destroy the boats, and warped in a large 
schaoner for the purpose ; but captains Archer and Tow- 
son, in thirty minutes, constructed a furnace, and opened 
a fire with hot shot, which compelled him to haul off. A 
party of Indians now appeared upon the brow of the moun- 
tain, but were soon dislodged by lieutenant Eldrige, 
who gained the summit wit!) a few volunteers, before the 
detachment which was ordered for the purpose. Sir 
James now demanded a surrender, with the u^nal story 
«f Indians in the rear, a fleet in front, and regulars ap- 
proaching. This artifice had grown stale, and could be 
played off na longer. Orders were now received from 
general Dearborne, for the army to return to Fort George ; 
the greater part of the camp equipage and baggage were 
put in boats, but were intercepted by an armed schooner, 
and twelve of them taken. The army broke up its 
encampment about ten o'clock, and took up its mai ch for 
Fort George, harassed nearly the whole way by Indians, 
who hung upon its flanks. 

I'he movement of general Deai borne against the Brit- 
ish fortifications on the Niagara, had well nigh cost him 
dear. The British leaving obtained information of it, re- 
solved to seize the opportunity of the absence of our 
troops and fleet, to attack Sackett*s Harbour. I'hey 
well knew the iiviportanee to us of this place. It was the 
deposit« of all our naval and military stores, both those 
captured at York, and those which had been collecting 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 139 

for a year, with a view to the operations against Cana- 
da. The convenience of this spot had caused it to be se- 
lected as the place to fit out our navies of the lake, and 
great quantities of timber and other materials were here 
collected for the construction of vessels. The new ship, 
the General Pike, was on the stocks, nearly ready to be 
launched, and the prize, the Gloucester, lay in the harbour. 
No time was to be lost in carrying into eft'ect this im- 
portant enterprise. Sir George Prevost selected a 
thousand picked men, and embarked them on board the 
fleet under commodore James Veo. Scarcely had com- 
modore Chauncey arrived at Niagara, when sir James 
shewed himself off the harbour, with the Wolf, the Royal 
George, the Prince Regent, Karl of Moira, and some 
smaller vessels. The small vessels under lieutenant Chaur- 
cey, left to give notice of the enemy's approach, espied the 
squadron, on the twenty-seventh, and hastened to the 
harbour, firing guns of alarm. This was immediately 
followed by the alarm guns on the shore, to bring in the 
militia, and to give notice to such regulars as might be 
near enough to hear them. Lieutenant colonel Backus, 
of the dragoons, had been left in command of the place ; 
but in case of attack, general Brown, then at his resi- 
dence eight miles offi was requested to take the com- 
mand, although his brigade of militia had retired to their 
homes, their term of service having expired. The whole 
regular force consisted of a few seamen^ lieutenant Fan- 
ning*s artillery, about two hundred invalids, not exceed- 
ing in the whole five hundred men, and colonel Mills, with 
the Albany volunteers and some militia, amounting to 
about five hundred more. On the twenty eighth, the ene- 
my was seen at the distance of about five miles, and seem- 
ed to be standing for the harbour, when a fleet of Ameri- 
can barges was discovered cominground North Point, with 
troops from Oswego. Their attention was now occupied 
by these, and they succeeded in cutting off twelve of 
tliem ; and taking it for granted that there were rnasy 
mote, they stood ot!' all this day, with a view of inter- 
cepting them. Ill the meanwhile gejieral Brown was 
diligently occcipied, in making arrangements for the de- 



140 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

fence of the place, in which he discovered much judg- 
ment. But a small part of the ground adjacent to the 
village was cleared, the rest being surrounded by woods. 
At the only point of landing, a battery and breast-work 
were hastily constructed, and the mditia placed behind 
them ready to receive the enemy as he landed, and to 
©pen a fire upon him in conjunction with the artillery. 
The regular troops, and the light artillery, were station- 
ed in a second line nearer the barracks and publick build- 
ings. On the approach of the enemy's boats, which were 
commanded by Sir George Prevost in person, a well 
directed fire, which was opened upon them, compelled 
them to pause ; several officers and men were seen to fall. 
Encouraged by this, they were engaged in loading a se- 
cond time, the artillery would then open; when sud- 
denly some unaccountable panick seized the militia, a 
panick, to which corps composed of the bravest men in- 
dividually, are liable on being engay;ed for the first time; 
they fled in confusion, and their officers in vain attempt- 
ed to rally them ; their brave commander, colonel Mills, 
in attempting to effect it, was sh(»t from his horse. The 
enemy now landed with little opposition, and having 
formed, advanced to the barracks ; but were for a mo-i 
ment checked by a vigorous attack from a party of infan- 
try under major Aspinwall, and the dismounted dragoons 
under m^jor Lavalle. 'Ihese were compelled, by num- 
bers, to retreat. A sharp conflict now conmienced, with 
tlie regulars and artillery under colonel Backus, which 
retired gradually, taking possession of the houses and 
barracks, whence they continued to annoy the enemy. 
The colonel, about this time, fell severely wounded, 
Shortly after the flight of the militia, general Brown sucr- 
ceeded in rallyina tTie company of captain M^Nitt, about 
ninety in number; with this he assailed the rear of the 
British, and in his own words, *' did some execution." 
Finding that there was now little hope of repelling the 
eneiny, so superiour in force, and every moment gaining 
groumi, he resorted to a ruse de guerre. A considerahle 
part of the militia, now ashamed of their panick, had 
collected near the scene of aetion 5 tlie general instantlj 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 141 

formed them, and marched them silently through the 
woods, so as to be discovered by the enemy. Sir George 
Prevost, believing that his rear was about to be cut off, 
ordered a retreat, which became a precipitate flight to 
the boats, leaving all his wounded and a number of pri- 
soners. 

The resistance at the barracks had been exceedingly 
obstinate ; a destructive fire was poured from the build- 
iiigs, while lieutenant Fanning, though severely wound- 
ed, still directed one not less so from his piece of artil- 
lery. Captain Gray, a valuable British officer and an 
accomplished gentleman, was shot by a small boy, a 
drun.:rer, who snatched up a musket and fired at him, as 
he was advancin,"- at the head of a column, to storm one of 
the barracks. 'J'liis boy, who was an American, had 
served him m his kitchen, and on the war breaking out, 
had returned home ; he now approached his tormer mas- 
ter vvhile in his last agonies, and owned that he had shot 
him. Captain Gray generously forgave him, and with a 
nobleness of soul, of M'hich we have had but too few ex- 
amples on the part of Britain during the war, took out 
his watch and presented it to him, with these words, *• ivy 
brave little tellow, you have done well." it is deli^^ntful 
to read such traits even in an enemy ; whetiiei- the boy 
deserved his encomium or his curse, is a matter to be 
settled by casuists. 

During the battle, a false alarm having been communi- 
cated to lieutenant Chauncey, that our troops had been 
defeated, he immediately, according to orders previously 
received, set fire to the publick store houses ; and the 
fire was not extinguished until considerable damage had 
been done. The loss of the Americans, in this affair was 
one colonel of volunteers, twenty regulars and one volun- 
teer killed ; one lieutenant colonel, three lieute<jants and 
one ensign of the regulars, and seventy-nine men, com- 
missioned ofticers and regulars, wounded ; and twenty-six 
misusing; the loss of the enemy amounted to three field 
officers, two captains, and twenty rank and file found 
dead upon the ground ; two captains and twenty rank 
and file wounde^ besides those killed and wounded iQ 



142 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the boats, and carried away previous to the retreat. On 
the same evening lieutenant colonel Little arrived, after 
a forced march of forty miles, with about six hundred 
men, and re-inforcements were rapidly arriving from eve- 
ry quarter. 

Notwithstanding this, a modest request of a surren- 
der was made by Sir George Prevost, which he soon after 
as modestly changed into a request for permissiron to hur- 
ry the dead, and that tlie wounded in our hands should 
be attended to; of this he received satisfactory assuran- 
ces. On his return to Kingston, he issued a vaunting 
proclamation, in which he announced a splendid victory, 
which no one believed. The injury inflicted on us was 
certainly considerable, but fell far short of the object of 
this expedition ; and that he was compelled precipitately 
to retreat, he could not pretend to deny. General Brown 
received and deserved applause for his conduct on this 
occasion, which laid the ground work of his military 
celebrity. 

Shortly after this affair, coromodere Chauncey return- 
ed with his squadron ; general Lewis took command of 
the place, and set about repairing the buildings and pub- 
lick store houses. General Dearborne, whose increas- 
ing indisposition disqualified him for an active command, 
retired from service, leaving colonel Boyd in command 
of Fort George. 

On the l6th of June, lieutenant Chauncey having been 
ordered to cruise off Presque Isle with the Lady of the 
Lake, captured the Lady Murray, with some officers and 
privates, besides a quantity of military stores. About 
the same time, a devastating and plundering party of the 
British made an attack on the village of Sodus, where 
some publick stores were deposited. On their approach, 
these were concealed in the woods, while the militia 
could be assembled to defend them. The British, exas- 
perated at their disappointment, set fire to all the valua* 
tie buildings in the town, destroyed the private property 
of individuals, and were only induced to desist from 
the entire destruction of the place, on the stipulation of 
tke inhabitants to deliver the publick stores at the wharf< 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 143 

The militia soon after appearing, the British were com- 
pelled to decamp with the booty they had already collect- 
ed. They made a second attempt a few days afterwards, 
but were prevented from landing by the appearance of 
the militia. This marauding expedition had no pretext 
of retaliation to cover it. 

About this time an affair of considerable moment took 
place near Fort George, in which our arms again expe- 
rienced a severe reverse. A detachment had been ordered 
out for the purpose of dislodging a party of the enemy 
at La Goose's house, ahout seventeen miles from Fort 
George, where they had been stationed for some time, in 
the neighbourhood of two others still more formidable, but 
which were both nearer to Fort George. Lieutenant colo- 
nel Bcerstler,was selected to command it. The expedition 
had no rational object, was dangerous and ill-judged. 
The detachment had not proceeded more than halfway, 
wiien Indians were seen skulking across the wood in their 
rear. A camp of several hundred of these, lay between 
them and the point to which they were going. The In- 
dians now attacked them from the adjoining woods ; at 
last they were compelled to fly ; but they kept up the 
fight long enough for the British parties to come up and 
attack them on all sides. Colonel Boerstier continued to 
make a biave resistance, until his ammunition was nearly 
expended, and a third of his detachment placed liors de 
combat. His rear was assailed by a large body of British 
and Indians, and no way of retreating remained but 
by cutting his way through them. He proposed a charge 
upon the enemy ; he had been twice summoned to sur- 
render ; on consultation with his officers, it was agreed 
to capitulate under the same stipulations as those of 
general Winchester, and which were but little better re- 
spected. 

A few days after this, the British having been greatly 
reinforced by general De Rottenburgh, invested the 
American camp. General Vincent was stationed at Bur- 
lington heights, and De Rottenburgh at Ten ^iile Creek. 
The New-York volunteers were detained at the head of 
the Lake, contrary to their parole, and on the 12th were 



144 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ordered to Kingston ; but on the way a number effected 
their escape. 

During the remainder of this and the succeeding 
months, a war of p»st was kept up between the two ar- 
mies. On the 8th of July, a severe skirmish was brought 
on. in which nearly the' whole force on either side was 
eno-aged, without any thing of moment resulting from it. 
An incident, however, occurred, which served to exas- 
perate the Americans to a higher degree than any thing 
during the war in this quarter. Lieutenant Eldridge, a 
gallant and accomplished youth, was drawn by his im- 
petuosity too far, with about thirty men, and was sur- 
rounded by British and Indians. The greater part re- 
sisted until they were killed ; but lieutenant Eidridge 
and ten others, were taken prisoners, and never after- 
wards heard of. The bodies of the slain were treated in 
fhe most shocking manner by the Indians : their hearts 
were taken out and actually eaten by those monsters, the 
allies of a chriatian King ! General Boyd, conside. ing 
the forbearance hitherto practised in declining the aid of 
Indian allies, as no longer justifiable, accepted the servi- 
ces of the Seneca nation, having about four hundred 
warriours, under Young Cornplanter, or Henry O. Beal, 
an Indian, educated at one of our colleges, but who on 
his return had resumed the blanket. It was. however, 
positively stipulated, that the unresisting and defenceless 
should not be hurt, and that no scalps should be taken 
from this they never deviated during the war ; but the 
circumstance of having Indians on our side, it was 
thought, miglit operate on the minds of the British. 

Oil the 1 1th of July, a force of two hundred of the ene 
my crossed the Niagara, and attacked Black Ruck -, t\\6 
militia stationed there, at first fled, but soon returned 
with a force of regulars and Indians, and compelled them 
to fly to their boiits, leaving nine of their men killed, 
and their commander, colone! Bishop, mortally wounded 

On the £8th of July, a second expedition was under- 
taken against York. Three hundred -'v^n, under colonel 
Scotc, emhiirked in commodore Chaiiiicuy's flcetv and 
suddenly landing at that place, drove the enemy, de* 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 145 

troyed the publick stores and property, released a num- 
ber of colonel Bcerstler's men, and returned to ISackett's 
Harbour, with a trifling loss. 

The British, who were at this time pursuing the sys- 
tem of devastation along our sea-board, which will be 
recounted in the next chapter, were at the same time 
engaged in laying waste the country on the borders of 
Lake Champlain. A little navy was also set on foot by 
both sides, on this Lake, in the beginning of the year ; 
but that of the United States was thus far less prosper- 
ous than that of the enemy. The whole American force, 
on this lake, consisted of a few armed barges, some gun- 
boats, and two schooners, the Growler and Eagle, uniler 
lieutenant Sidney Smith. In the beginning of July, the 
schooners were attacked near the entrance of this lake 
into the St. Lawrence, and after a severe resistance of 
three hours, against a very superiour force, were compell- 
ed to surrender. The British being now masters of the 
lake, cruised along its borders, landing in various places, 
and committing many depredations on the prop arty of 
the inhabitants. On the thirty -first of July, twelve hun- 
dred men landed at Plattsburg, where no resistance was 
^iiade, a sufhcient body of militia not being collected in 
time ; they first destroyed all the publick buildings, and 
then wantonly burnt the storehouses of several of the 
inhabitants, and carried oft* great quantities of private 
property. The same outrages were committed after- 
wards at Swanton, in the state of Vermont, Such 
acts served only to provoke the ijihabitants, and render 
them better disposed to give the enemy a warm recep- 
tion at some other period. 

On Lake Ontario, a formidable naval armament, con- 
sidering the size of this inland sea, was arrayed on either 
side, and an interesting contest ensued, between two 
skilful officers, for the superiority. The General Pike, of 
twenty -two guns, had been launched, and proved to be an 
excellent sailor, and commodore Chauncey was now fully 
equal, in pointof strength, to his antagonist. Sir James, 
though somewhat inferiour in force, had the advantage in 
an important particular, his ships saikd better insquad- 
IS 



146 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ron, and he could therefore avoid or come to an ensjagc- 
ment when he should think proper. But it being a mat- 
ter all important for the British, to prevent the Ameri- 
cans from becoming masters of the lake, Sir James pru- 
dently avoided a general action, and on all occasions ex- 
erted his utmost skill, with this intention. On the con- 
trary, to bring him to action, was the utmost wish of 
commodore Chauncey ; and the manoeuvres on either 
side, are said to be amongst the most skilful known in the 
history of naval tacticks. On the 7th of August, they 
came in sight of each other, the fleets about equal force. 
Commodore Chauncey mancKUvred to gain the wind. 
Having passed the leeward of the enemy's line, and being 
abreast of his van ship, the Wolf, he fired a few guns to 
ascertain whether he could reach the hostile fleet. The 
shot falling short, he wore, and hauled upon a wind to the 
starboard tack ; the rear of the commodore's schooners 
being six miles astern. Sir James wore also, and hauled 
upon a wind on the same tack, but observing that the 
American fleet would be able to weather him in the next 
tack, he tacked again and made all sail to the northward. 
Commodore Chauncey pursued him. The chase was 
continued until night, but the schooners not being ableto* 
keep up, a signal was made to give up the pursuit, our 
force in close order. The wind now blew heavy, and at 
midnight, two of the schooners, the Scourge and the 
Hamilton, were found to have overset in the squall, 
liieutenants Winter and Osgood, two valuable oflicers, 
were lost, and only sixteen men of the crew saved. The 
next morning the enemy, discovt?ring this loss, appeared 
to be disposed to engage, and seemed to bear off* for that 
purpose, having now the superiority. Two schooners 
were ordered to move up and engage him, but when with- 
in a mile and a half, he attempted to cut them off', in which 
he failed ; he then hauled his wind and hove to. A 
squxill coming on, and commodore Chauncey being ap- 
prehensive oi separating from his dull sailing schooners, 
ran in towards Niagara and anchored. Here he receiv- 
ed on board, from Fort George, one hundred and fifty- 
men to act as marines, and distributed them through his 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 147 

fleet; he a^ain sailed and continued until 11 o'clock, at 
times pursuing and being pursued, when the rear of the 
line opened its fire, and in fifteen minutes the fire be- 
came general on both sides. At half past eleven, the 
weather line bore off, and passed to the leeward, except 
the Growler and Julia, which soon after tacked to the 
southward, and brought the British between them and 
the remainder of the American fleet, which then edged 
away to engage the enemy to more advantage, and to 
lead him from the two schooners. Sir James exchanged 
a few shot with the American commodore's ship, and pur- 
sued the Growler and Julia. A firing commenced be- 
tween them, which continued until one o'clock in the 
morning of the tenth. A desperate resistance was made 
against this superiour force, to which the two vessels 
were compelled to yield ; Sir James' ship is said to 
have been considerably injured. The next day he was 
visible, but shewed no dispusition to come to action. 
Commodore ( hauncey soon after returned to Sackett's 
Harbour. A victory for this affair was claimed by Sir 
James Yeo ; his situation would not allow him to be can- 
did, for he was compelled to keep up an appearance of 
being willing to engage the American squadron, although 
he had no such intention ; he expected, however, to be 
able to cut off our dull sailing schooners in detail. 



148 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

War on the coast— Exploits of Cockburn — Pkmdering and bufn- 
ingof Haver de-Grace — Burning olGeorgetown and Frederick- 
town — Arrival of admiral Warren and Sir Sidney Beckwith — 
Southern cities threatened — Attack on Craney Island— Enor- 
mities at Hampton — Cockburn plunders the Coast cf North 
Carolina — Blockade of the American squadron at New London, 
by commodore Hardy — The Torpedo System. 

During the first year of the war, Great Britain being- 
deeply engaged in the important transactions then go- 
ing on in Europe, had little time to attend to the war 
with this country ; not one of our ports could be said to 
have been in a state of actual blockade. 

The forces whicii she could spare, were sent to Canada. 
The change in the face of things in Europe, gave her a 
greater disposable force, and more leisure, while our 
unparalleled victories on the ocean, awakened her at- 
tention, and kindled a desire for revenge. Long before 
spring, it was known that a British squadron had arrived 
at Bermuda, with a body of troops on board, and well 
supplied with bombs and rockets, for the purpose of at- 
tacking some of our most exposed southern cities. For. 
the invidious distinction was made between the north 
and south, from a belief, that the northern states were 
not merely unfriendly to the war, but were strongly in- 
clined to secede from the Union, and return to their for- 
mer allegiance to the king of England- 

We are now about to enter upon a species of hostili- 
ties, entirely new among civilized people. The scenes 
which we must pass in review, can scarcely be spoken of 
with moderation. They are compounded of the avari- 
cious and plundering barbarity, which characterizes the 
pirates ot the Mediterranean, and of the savage ferocity 
of the scenes which disgraced the River Raisin. What- 
ever may be the reputations of the chief actors in Eng- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 149 

land, they can never be otherwise regarded in this coun- 
try, than as the infamous instruments in the perpetration 
of enormities, from which the honourable man woukl shrink 
with instinctive horrour. The recollection of the prison- 
ships and otiier enormities during the revolutionary war, 
when Eittgland chose to regard us as traitors, and which 
the generosity and wisdom of England ought to have kept 
from our minds, was renewed with all possible aggrava- 
tion, now that she chose to regard us as double traitors: 
If it has been her intention to plant an eternal hatred in 
the hearts of a people, destined at some future day to be- 
come numerous and powerful, she has certainly fallen up- 
on the proper means. To say that these things should be 
passed over lightly, bee ause we are now at peace with her, 
would be a scandal to every American ; it would be ader 
sertion of truth, justice, religion, humanity; it would be 
passing over lightly and indulgently, the most complica- 
ted crimes, and sinking at once every distinction between 
infamy and virtue. 

It was soon understood that the war to be carried on 
against the Atlantic c6ast in the spring, was to be a war 
of havock and destruction ; but to what extent was not 
exactly known. Tlie enemy, however, *• talked of chastis- 
ing us into submission,*-' and it was expected that our 
large commercial towns, now somewiiat fortified against 
the approach of their shipping, v/'uld be vigorously attack- 
ed; and, from the exan.pie we had ^cen at Copenhagen, 
it was not impossible 'that thej would be much injured, 
and perhaps reduced to ashes. tSinall bodies of regular 
troops were stationed at tlitt'erent points along the sea- 
board, to form the rallying poin(s of tiie militia, which 
might be called out as occasion should require : a number 
of marines and seamen, belonging to publick vessels 
which did not put to sea, were also to co-operate in this 
service. 

On the fourth of February, a squadron consisting of 
two ships of the iint, three frigates and other vessels, 
made its appearance in the Liiesapeake, apparently 
standing for Hatispton Roads. '1 he alarm was inime- 
diately caught at Kurfolk, and the militia called in from 
13* 



150 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the upper part of tht? state. No attempt, however, was 
made upon the town, the enemy contenting himself with 
destroying the smaller vessels employed in the naviga- 
tion of the Bay, and eftectively blockading its waters. 
About the same time, another squadron under the com- 
jnand of commodore Beresford, appeared in tlie Dela- 
ware, consisting of the Poictiers, the Belvidera, and some 
other vessels, wliich in the same manner destroyed a 
number of small trading vessels, and attempted several 
times to land some of their men, who were as often re- 
pulsed by the militia, hastily collected. On the tenth of 
April, Sir John Beresford made a demand on the people 
of the village of Lewistown, for a supply of provisions, 
which was spiritedly refused by colonel Davis, comn and- 
ing at that place. Captain Byron, of the Belvidera, was 
ordered to move near the village and bon<ihard it, until 
the demand should be complied with. This was obeyed, 
but without effect ; after a cannonade of twenty hours, 
they were unable to make an; impression on the place. 
Their fire had been returned from some batteries, hastily 
thrown up on the bank, with considerable ettect. On the 
tenth of JVlay, the same squadron sent out their barges in 
the neighboLiilu)od of Lewistown, to procure water. Ma- 
jor George Huiiter was detached by colonel Davis, with 
one hundred and fifty men, to oppose their landing, which 
the major did with so much gallantry, that he con»pelled 
them to hasten to their sliipping. The squadron soon 
after returned to Benuuda, where Sir J. Boriace Warren, 
who commanded on this station, was engaged in fitting 
©ut a ms>re con^iiderable armament, for the attack of our 
seacoast during the summer. 

'*?.oon after tlie departure of the squadron, the Spartan, 
and some other frigates, entered the Delaware. One of 
their vessels, the Martin, was discovered on the syth of 
July, slightlj grounded on tlie outer edge otCrow*s shoals, 
A detachment of the gun boat tlotiila im mediately moved, 
and aiichoring in line about three quarteis of a mile froiu 
the sloop, opened a destructive fire upon her. the Ju- 
non frigate soon after came off to her relief; a cannonade 
Wftii kept up during au hour between tlie guaboacs and 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 151 

these two vessels, in which the latter suffered great inju- 
ry. Finding it impossible to drive oft' this n>osquito 
fleet, they manned their launches, tenders and cutters, to 
cut off the gunboats, at the extreniitv of the line. No. 
121, commanded by sailing master Head, was unfortu- 
nately taken, after a desperate resistance against eight 
times her number. The British soon after made sail, the 
Martin having been extricatc'd from h(M* situation. 

Scenes of a ditt'erent kind were, in the meanwhile, act- 
ing in the Chesapeake. The squadron, which returned 
in February, still continued to carry on a predatory war 
alon* the shores and inlets. It was here that one Cock- 
burn, by some means an admiral in the service of the 
king of England, exhibited the first of those exploits, for 
<which he afterwards become so highly celebrated ; and of 
which he may justly claim to be the originator. At first 
they were directed against the detached farm-houses and 
seats of private gentlemen, unprepared for, and incapa- 
ble of defence; these were robbed, and the owners treat- 
ed in the rudest manner. The cattle which could not be 
carrieil away, were doomed to wanton destruction ; the 
slaves were armed against their owners, and persuaded 
to follow the example of their new frienils, to attack their 
master's defenceless families, and to engage in pillaging 
them. It was impossiijle to station a force at each farm 
house, to repel these miserable and disgraceful incur- 
sions ; yet, in several instances, Cockburn and his ruifians 
were bravely repelled, by a collection of the n»'ighbours 
without authority, and under no leader. The spirited 
citizens ofMnryland formed bodies of cavalry, which 
were stationed at intervals along the shore, to be drawn 
out at a moment's warning, for tlie puipose of repelling 
the sudden inroads of the enemy. Cockburn took pos- 
session of several islands in the Bay, pir'icularly Sharp^s, 
Tilghman's, and Poplar Islands, whence he could seize 
the opportunity of making a descent upon the neighbour- 
ing shores, when the inhabitants happened to be ofi' their 
guard. 

Encouraged by his success against the farmers, and his 
rapacity increasing by the booty which he had already 



15£ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

obtained, CockhuiR now resolved te undertake something 
ofa more bold and adventurous character, in which, his 
thirst for plunder, and his love of mischief, might be gra- 
tified in a higher de<i^ree. He therefore directed his at- 
tention to the unprotected villages and hamlets along; the 
bay ; carefully avoiding the larger towns, the plundering 
of which uiight be attended with some danger. The first 
of these exploits was against the village of Frenchtown, 
containing six dwelling houses, two hirge store houseSj 
and several stables it is important, however, as a place 
of deposite on the line of packets and stages from Phila- 
delphia to the city of Baltimore, and Cockburn riglitly* 
conjectured that here there might be private property to 
a considerable amount, he accordingly set out on Ihijsj 
expedition, from his ship the Maflborough, in bargesj 
with five hundred marines ; a sufficient number to have 
carried the town on their backs. Some shew of resis- 
tance was made by a small party of militia collected IVoin 
Elkton, but which moved oft' as the admiral approachedj 
The storehouses were destroyed, together with the goods? 
they were unable to carry oft', to an immense amouiit. 
Amongst other objects of wanton destruction, was an 
elegant drop-curtumj intended for tiie theatres of the 
cities betore mentioned. The brand was applied to souie; 
of the private dwelling houses, and to several vesselsl; 
lying at the wharf ; after acineving this glorious victory, 
the admiral, fearing the approach of the militia, hastily- 
retired to his ship. 

The next exploit of the admiral, was of still greater 
importance, 'ihe town of tlavre-de-Grace is situated: 
on the Susquehanna, about two miles fion;i the head ot'^ 
the Bay, and is a neat village, containing twenty or thir- 
ty houses. An attack on this place was the next object 
which entered into the plan of tiie admiral's operations. 
Accordingly, on the thud of May, before day-light, his 
approach was announced by a few cannon slu^t, and theili 
firing of rockets, 'ihe inhabilants, roused from their' 
sleep, leap^^d up in the greatest consternation, and tiie 
more ct»urage«ius repaired tu the beach, where a few small 
pieces of aitiilery had been planted on a kind of battery Iv 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 15S 

fo4' the purpose of defence against the smaller watering or 
plundering parties of the enemy. After firing a few shots, 
with the exception of an old citizen of the place, of the 
name of O'Neill, they all fled on the approach of the 
barges, abandoning the village to the mercy of Cockburn. 
()*Neill alone continued the fight, loading a piece of ar- 
tillery, and firins; it himself, until by recoiling, it ran over 
his thijjh and wounded him severely. He then armed 
himself with a musket, and limping away, still kept up a 
retreating fight with the advancing column of the British, 
who had by this time landed and formed ; after which he 
moved oflf' tojt)in his five or six comrades, whom he at- 
tempted in vain to rally. 

The enemy had no sooner taken possession of the vil- 
lage by this sudden and bold assault, than they set them- 
selves about destroying the private dwellings, and plun- 
dering their contents. Having glutted their avarice, thej 
then amused themselves with every species of barbarous 
and wanton mischief. The houses being now on fire, 
they cut open the beds of the inhabitants, and threw in the 
feathers to increase the flame. Women and children 
fled shrieking in every direction, to avoid the brutal in- 
solence of the British seamen and marines, and no where 
did they find a protector amongst these s )vages. Their 
clothes were torn from tKoir backs, nntl they felt them- 
selves at every moment in danger of being massacred. 
Not on women and children alone were these outrages 
committed ; the stage horses kept at this place were cruel- 
ly maimed, and tlie stages broken to pieces. Determin- 
ed that their character should not be equivocal, these 
worse than Vandals, selected as the next object of their 
barbarous vengeance, a neat and beautiful building, dedi- 
cated to the worship of the Almiglity, and with unusual 
pains defaced its doors and windows. One building yet 
remained undemolished, an elegant dwelling belonging 
to commodore Rodgers, where the most respectable fe- 
males of the town had taken refuge with their children, 
believing that a naval officer would not wantonly insult 
the unprotected wife of a brave and gallant seaman, who 
was then absent in the service of his country. The cffi- 



154 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

eer to whom the task of conflagration had been assignedfj'i 
already held the torch, when with much solicitation ht 
consented to wait a few moments, until an appeal to tht 
admiral could be made. It proved successful, and it u 
mentioned to his praise, that he only refrained on one oc 
c'dsion from doing; that which would have been the climas 
of brutality. There being no further mischief for then^ 
to perpetrate in the village, they divided their force inU 
three parts, and while one remained to keep watch, thf 
others proceeded to lay waste the adjacent country. Oiu 
party followed tlie road towards Baltimore for severa,^ 
miles, plundering the farm-houses, and robbing the tra-fA 
Tellers on the road of their clothes and money ; the othetjjj? 
proceeded up the river, committing similar outrages. Ill 
were endless to enumerate the acts of base and wantonji 
injury, inflicted by this party, during the short time whicl 
they remained. On the sixth, to the great satisfaction o\ 
the inhabitants, these savages, than whom those of the 
west were not worse, returned to their fleet. O'Neill^ 
who had been taken prisoner, was carried with them ancj 
detained several days, at the end of which time the^ 
thought proper to release him. The inhabitants of the 
village, many of whom were almost ruined, threw them- 
selves on the humanity of their fellow-citizens of Balti- 
more, who generously contributed to their relief, and 
they were soon after enabled to commence the rebuild- 
ing of their houses. 

Elated with the profitable issue of this descent, u 
which so rich a booty was obtained with so little dangerj 
the enemy was eager for some other enterprise equall^ 
honourable to the British arms. The admiral had cast 
his eye upon two beautiful villages, situated on the river 
Sassafras, which empties itself into the bay; George-town 
and Frederick -town, situated opposite each other, one in 
Kent, the other in Cecil county. His hired agents, for 
miscreants may be found in ever}"^ country for such pur- 
poses, had informed him, that here he might glut his crew 
with plunder. On the sixth, placing himself at the head 
of six hundred men, in eighteen barges, he ascended tli*; 
river, and proceeded towards Frederick-town. ColoAe! 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 155 

i^eazy had collected here about fifty militia, on the ap- 
proach of the barges, which immediately commenced a 
teavy fire with langrage, sliot, and musketry. The greater 
tart of the militia fled, and left colonel Veazy to oppose 
hem as he could ; he, notwithstanding, kept up a steady 
ire, until they approached so near that he was compelled 
lo retreat. The admiral boldly advanced to the town, 
Oilundered the houses, and in spite of the entreaties of the 
/omen and children, again acted the incendiary, and 
ef^aving Frederick-town in flames, passed to the opposite 
ide of the river, where after having treated the village of 
reorge-town in the same manner, he returned glutted 
ith spoil and satiated with wanton havock. 
It was not long after this, that admiral Warren enter- 
d the bay with a considerable reinforcement, and anum- 
er of land troops and marines, under the command of 
ir Sidney Beckwith. They had seized a number of 
le smaller vessels employed in the navigation of the 
ii)jiy, for the purpose of being used in percetrating the vari- 
iiilius inlets, impervious to their larger tenders. To op- 
ej|ose to these small parties, employed in frequent and 
lie [Stressing depredations on the property of private indi- 
«■ duals, the government hired a number of barges and 
«• ^ht vessels, which by moving from place to place witk 
iiiilreat rapidity, would tend to keep the enemy in check. 
Idln the arrival of admiral Warren, their force, which ap- 
iared in the Chesapeake, consisted of seven ships of 
e line, and twelve frigates, with a proportionate num- 
T of smaller vessels. The appearance of this formida- 
e force, created much alarm in the more considerable 
wns along the Chesapeake. Baltimore, Annapolis, and 
orfolk, were threatened. The last of these places, it 
as evident was to receive the first blow. 
in On the eighteenth, commodore Cassin, having received 
telligence that a squadron of the enemy had arrived in 
ampton Roads, now made the necessary dispositions 
r repelling the invader. The frigate Constellation was 
chored between the two forts, on each side of Eliza- 
th river, which commands the approach to Norfolk. At 
is place nearly ten thousand of tiie Virginia militia had 



196 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

been already collected. The gun-boat flotilla was order 
ed in the mean while to descend the river, and engage 
the foremost of the enemy's frigat'^s. Captain Tarb el I 
bv whom it .was commanded, proceeded in two divisions 
the first commanded by lieutenant Gardner, and the othei 
by lieutenant Henley. On the twentieth, having brough 
his gun-boats into a favourable position, he opened £ 
rapid fire upon the Junon frigate, at the distance of hal 
a mile. This was returned, and contiaued for half ar 
hour, apparently to the great injury of the frigate, the 
gun-boats sufftring but little. Another vessel, whicl;; 
proved to he a razee, was seen coming to her assistance i 
the fire of the Junon for a shot time appeared to hav(| 
been silenced ; but on the arrival of her consort, and ad 
ditional frigates, she again opened. Captain Tarbell nov 
thought proper to retire. I'he Junon was. much shat-ter 
ed ; and her loss, considering the great disparity of force 
is thought to have been considerable. • 

A formidable attack on Norfolk was resolved upon hi 
the British ; preparatory to this, it would be necessary t<i 
subdue the forts by which it was protected. The nearj 
est obstruction to the enemy's advances, was Grant 
Island ; and in the course of the day, they dropped to thljdi 
mouth of James' River. Captain Tarbell gave orders t( 
lieutenants Neal, Shubrick and Saunders, of the frigat 
Constellation, to land with a hundred seamen on th 
island, for the purpose of manning a battery on the N. W 
side, vvhile he stationed the gun-boats in such a manne 
as to enable him to annoy the enemy from the oppositi k 
side. On the tv.enty -second, at day light, they wer te 
discovered approaching round the point of Nansimom 
river, with about four thousand men, a great proporti 
of whom, it was afterwards ascertained, were wretche 
French troops, who had been taken prisoners in Spai 
and induced to enter into the British service, undelfe 
promise of being permitted to pillage and abuse the cit {rate 
•zens of the United States. They selected a place 
landing out of the reach of the gun-boat« ; but unfojlintei 
tunately for them, not out of the reach of danger. Whe 
they had approached within two hundred yards of thilsjj] 



lelsltfii 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 15/ 

shore, lieutenant Neale, assisted by lieutenants Shubrick 
and Saunders, opened a gallinj^ fire upon them, which 
compelled them to pause. Tlie battery was mounted 
with an eighteen-pounder, and manned by one hundred 
and fifty men, including lieutenant Brcckenridge's ma- 
rines. The piece was directed with so much precision, 
that several of their boats were cut in two, and the men 
with difficulty escaped. The Centipede, the admiral's 
bare;e, was sunk, and the whole force was compelled to 
make a precipitate retreat. This was no sooner disco- 
vered, than lieutenant Neale ordered his men to haul up 
the boats, which had been sunk, and to afford the unfor** 
; tunate sufferers every assistance in their power. A large 
. body of tlie enemy who had landed on the main shore, 
were not less warmly received by the Virginia volunteers, 
on their crossing the narrow inlet to the west. A short 
time before the approach of the barges, this body of men, 
about eight hundred in number, attempted to cross to the 
island by the inlet of which we have spoken ; colonel 
Beaty had been posted, with about four hundred men, to 
guard the pass ; two twenty four pounders, and two 
sixes, were planted to oppose the passage, under th» 
direction of major Faulkner, and the guns commanded 
by captain Emerson, and lieutenants Howeland Godwin. 
The conflict here raged at the same moment with tlie at- 
tack on the ^arty approaching by water. The enemy 
was compelled to give up the attempt in this quarter also. 
His loss in this signal repulse, was upwards of two hun- 
dred in killed and wounded, besides a number of deser- 
iters, who seized the opportunity of making their escape. 
I The safety of the city of Norfolk, and of the surround- 
ing towns of Gosport, Portsmouth and others, is to be 
attributed to the resolute defence of Crany Island. The 
conduct of lieutenant Neal and his brave companions, 
Shuonck, Saunders, and Breckenridge, received tlie 
grateful acknowledgements of the inhabitants. Colonel 
Beaty and his officers, and two non-commissioned vo- 
lunteers, sergeant Young and corporal Muffit, were no 
less entitled to praise for the parts which they took in 
iBiis interesting atlair. 

14 



158 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

This unexpected repulse enraged the enemy beyond 
measure. At the same time that their desire of revenue 
was excited, in consequence of their disappointment m 
the sacking of Norfolk, they were tauii;ht greater pru- 
dence in the selection of tlie object of attack. In a con- 
sultation between admiral Warren, Sir Sidney Beck- 
with, and Cockburn, they determined on attacking th« 
town of Hampton, distant about eighteen miles from 
Norfolk. There was a garrison here, consisting of about 
four hundred men, artillerists and infantry. The forti- 
fications of the place were of very little consequence ; in 
fact, it was but an open village, of little more importance 
than those pillaged by Cockburn. It was thought, that 
by possessing this place, the communication between 
Norfolk and the upper country would be entirely cut off. 
On the twenty -fifth, the plan of attack having been ad- 
justed, admiral Cockburn advanced towards the town, 
with a number of barges, tenders, and smaller vessels, 
throwing rockets, and firing towards the town, while Sir 
Sidney landed below, at the head of two thousand men, 
intending to march up and gain the rear of the Ameri- 
cans. Admiral Cockburn was so warmly received by 
major Crutchfield, tho officer commanding at Hampton, 
who opened upon him a few pieces of artillery, that he 
was compelled instantly to withdraw, and conceal him- 
self behind a point In the meanwhile, Sir .Sidney made 
his appearance, and was severely handled by a rifle cora-i 
pany under captain Servant, which had been posted ia 
a wood, near which he had to pass. Major Crutchfield, 
soon after drew up his infantry in support of the rifle- 
men j but finding himself unable to contend with num- 
bers so superiour, he made good his retreat, not, how- 
ever, without great difticulty. Captain Pryor, who had 
been left to command the battery, which opposed the 
enemy's landing, found that the royal marines had ap- 
proached within sixty yards of him ; his corps considering 
itself in a situation hopeless of escape, already regard- 
ed tliemselves as prisoners of war ; when he ordered the 
guns to be^spiked, and charging upon the enemy, threw 
them into confusion, and actually effected his escape 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 159 

without the losa of a single man. The loss of the Ameri- 
cans, in this affair, amounted to seven killed and twelve 
wounded ; that of the British, according to their ac- 
knowledgements, was five killed and thirty -three wound- 
ed ; but probably much more considerable. 

We have again to record the inhuman and detestable 
conduct of those entrusted by Great Britain, with the 
direction of the war against America. Conduct which 
can scarcely find a parallel in the atrocious deeds com- 
mitted by the savages at the river Raisin. A series of 
equal outrages on all the laws of honourable war, is not to 
be met with in authentick history. No sooner was this 
village in quiet possession of tlie invaders, than full per- 
mission was given to the vile mercenary wretc-hes wijich 
composed the British force, to give a loose to their worst 
passions and propensities. After acting the usual scenes 
of shameless plunder and devastation, in which officers 
and men took an equal share ; tliey proceeded to offer 
violence to the persons of the unfortunate inhabitants, 
whose age, whose sex, whose infirmities precluded tlje 
possibility of escape. The wretched females were con- 
signed to the gratification of the brutal desires of a brutal 
soldiery, with circumstances of indignity unheard of. 
Wives were torn from the sides of their wounded 
husbands, daughters from their mothers, and violated 
in their presence. Human nature was shocked beyond 
endurance at the detested spectacle ; mothers clasping 
their helpless babes to their bosoms, endeavoured to 
plunge at once into the sea, as the last sad refuge of des- 
pair ; but even this was denied them, they were driven 
back, and compelled to undergo what was worse than 
ten thousand deaths. Was there no British officer who, 
on this occasion, felt for the honour of his country, and 
endeavoured, at the risk of his life, to save it from this 
indelible reproach ? It seems there was not one. The 
heart of humanity cannot. fill up the disgusting picture 
with its revolting particulars. Would it be believed 
that a sick old man of the name of Kirby, unable to rise 
from his bed, was set upon by these fiends, and murdered 
in the arms of his aged wife, who, because she desired to 



160 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

remonstrate, received the contents of a pistol in her body ; 
and, to complete the sacrilegious scene, they wantonly 
and cruelly put to death their faithful do^. Two sick men 
were murdered in tlie hospital, the medical stores were 
destroyed, all the wounded who fell into their hands, were 
not only denied medical aid, but even common sustenance, 
<lunn«;tvvo days, that they thus threw aside, not merely 
liie character of soldiers, of christians, but of men. 

This picture is by no means overcharged. It is found- 
ed upon the fullest evidence submitted to a committee 
of congress, which reported upon it in still stronger 
terms. But the substance was not denied by Sir Sidney 
Beck with, to whom it was communicated by general 
Taylor, and the greater pait actually acknowledged. 
The feelings of the people throughout Virginia were, if 
possible, more excited on this subject, than were those of 
the people of Kentucky, at the massacies under Proctor. 
General Taylor, who commanded the station, addressed 
a letter to Sir Sidney Beck with, conceived inthatspecies 
of dignified and appalling eloquence, which the feelings 
of an honourable man alone can dictate, on the subject 
of such an outrage, and by which guilt is compelled to seek 
for refuge in the sheltering meanness of falsehood and pre- 
varication. General Taylor, after stating the enormities 
of which the British troops had been guilty, desired to be 
informed of the nature of the war intended to be carried on 
against the United States ; whether the scenes at Hamp- 
ton had been unauthorised by the British government, 
or whether that government had entirely thrown aside 
the ordinary usages of war which govern civilized na-, 
tions. '' Worthless," said he, " is the laurel steeped in I 
female tears, and joyless the conquests which have inflict-: 
ed needless wo, on the peaceful and unresisting." Sir 
Sidney replied, that he was sorry for the excesses ati 
Hampton, and hoped that, in future, the war would be 
carried on with as much regard to hujmanity as possible. 
This evasive answer was not received as satisfactory, one; 
more explicit was required. He then declared that ihe 
excesses were committed in retaliation, for the conduct on 
the part of the Americans at Crany Island, in shooting at 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 161 

the seamen who clung to a barge which had overset. 
General Taylor immediately instituted a court of inqui- 
ry, which proved the charge to be witiiout foundation. 
On the result being communicated, Sir Sidney did not 
tliink proper to give a written reply ; but promised ver- 
bally to withdraw his troops from the neighbimrhood, and 
excused himself, on the score of his not having been ac- 
quainted with the kind of war to which these men had 
been accustomed in Spain ; that in fact, they could not 
be restrained : but he added, that as soon as he had found 
them engaged in such excesses, he had given orders for 
them to re-embark. The facts will not, however, support 
the excuse, and there is no criminal who has perpetrated 
the grossest crime, that cannot fabricate as good. It is 
unpleasant to implicate Admiral Warren, and Sir Sidney 
Beckwith, in this detestable affiur, as their conduct has 
been in general of a dift'erent character. This is much 
more the element of Cockburn, who doubtless shared in 
it with peculiar pleasure. But there was in the conduct 
of the two officers before mentioned, a shameful indiffer- 
ence upon a subject, which so deeply regarded the charac- 
ter of the British government; if such indifference be wise 
or not, the history of the world will decide. As to the 
assertion that the scenes at Hampton were similar to 
those which had occurred in Spain, it by no means clears 
the British character ; but, in reality, such acts of atroci- 
ty were never perpetrated in Spain, or in any other 
country. 

The squadron, during the remainder of the summer, 
^frequently threatened the city of Washington, Annapolis 
and Baltimore. Large bodies of militia were on several 
occasions drawn out, and the country in consequence 
much harassed. This was fair and justifiable in the 
enemy, and is no subject of complaint ; and had any of 
our towns been laid in ashes, while attempting a resist- 
ance, it would only have been regarded as a misfortune 
of war, which the enemy had a right to inflict. Cockburn 
was permitted to pursue his own inclination, in moving 
to the south with a formidable squadron, to carry on in 
the Carolina's and Georgia, the same species of warfar« 
14* 



162 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

which he had so successfully practised in the Chesapeake. 
In the beginning of July, the admiral appeared off Ocra- 
coke river, in North Carolina, and shortly after crossed 
the bar; and, with a number of barges, attacked two 
private armed vessels, the Anaconda and the Atlas, 
which, after a gallant resistance, were captured. The 
Revenue cutter, then in port, made her escape to New- 
bern, at which place the militia assembled in such num- 
bers, that the admiral's designs upon it were frustrated. 
He landed about three thousand m»n, then proceeded to 
Portsmouth, and having treated the inhabitants in the 
same manner as he had treated those of the Chesapeake, 
he returned with a valuable booty, and a number of 
slaves, who had been induced to leave their masters, un- 
der a promise of freedom, but who were afterwards sold 
in the West-Indies. 

To the north of the Chesapeake, although these dis- 
graceful depredations were not committed, the coast was 
not exempt from the effects of war. A strict blockade 
was kept up at New -York. The American frigates 
United States, and Macedonian, and the sloop Hornet, 
attempted to sail on a cruise from that port about the be- 
ginning of May ; hut finding the force at the Hook much 
superiour to theirs, they put back, and passed through 
Hell Gate, with the intention of passing out by the 
Sound. In this they were once mure frustrated ; and 
on the first of June, after another attempt, they were 
chased into New London. Six hundred militia were 
immediately called in from the surrounding country, for 
the protection of the squadron ; commodore Decatur^ 
landing some of his guns, mounted a battery on the shore 
and at the same time so lightened his vessels, as to en- 
able them to ascend the river out of the reach of the ene- 
»iy. This place was so well fortified, that no attempt 
was made upon it, but the blockade was strictly kept up 
for many months. 

It is pleasing to contrast the conduct of commodorei 
Hardy, who commanded the squadron north of the i'hesa- 
peake, with that of Cockburn. His conduct was uni- 
formly that of a brave, humane, and honourable officer* 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 16S 

jAlthough he frequently landed on different parts of the 
coast ; his deportment was such as mi^ht be expected 
from a manly and generous enemy. Such an enemy we 
had reason "to dread 5 but the depredations of the other, 
could only tend to provoke the inhabitants of this coun- 
try, and to sink all party feelings in the opposition to 
the war. If the procedure of Cockburn was authorised 
by his government, it was dictated by a very mistaken 
policy, for nothing ould more effectually lieal political 
differences, and render the war a common cause with 
every American. 

An act of congress had been passed during the last win- 
ter, which cannot be mentioned without feelings of re- 
gret. Some excuse may be found for it in the irritation 
produced, in consequence of the mode of warfare which 
the enemy had threatened to pursue. By this act, a re- 
ward of half the vessels destroyed, was offered to such 
as should effect the destruction, by any other means, than 
by the armed or commissioned vessels of the United 
States. The measure originated with the torpedo scheme, 
of which so much at that time was said. There is some- 
thing unmaniy in this insidious mode of annoyance ; it is 
not justifiable even for defence against an unsparing foe. 
It is but little better than poisoning fountains, and piepar- 
ing mines. Valour can claim no share in such exploits, 
and to the brave mind little pleasure can be derived from 
the recollection of hiiving thus treacherously destroyed 
an enemy. It is forbidden by, the same reason which for- 
bids us to strike the unresisting, because there is no oppor- 
tunity of defence. The laurel which is not fairly won, 
is of no value to the real hero. It had been in tiie pow- 
er of general Sinclair, to have poisoned his spirituous 
liquors at the moment of his defeat, and to have des- 
troyed our cruel enemy ; but shame would have followed 
the intliction of such an injury, even upon savages. 

Several attempts at blowing up the enemy's vessels 
were made, in consequence of the law. The most re- 
markaljle were those against the Ramilies, the admiral's 
ship, the other against the Plantagenet. Some time in 
June, the schooner Kagle having been filled with flour bar- 



164 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

rels, and containing a quantity of gun-powder, had a gun- 
lock fixed at the bottom, so contrived as to explode the 
powder in the attempt to unload. She was then thrown 
in the way of the blockading squadron's boats ; fortunate- 
ly, the seamen, instead of taking her along side of the 
Ramilies, determined first to take out some of the cargo; 
in doing tliis, the schooner blew up, and destroyed several 
of the British seamen. The next experiment was made 
with the torpedo, against the P!antagenet,then lying below 
Norfolk. After four or five attempts, in which the persons 
engaged could not come sufficiently nparthe ship, without 
being discovered, the torpedo was dropped at the dis- 
tance of a hundred yards, and swept down by the tide, 
and on approaching the vessel, exploded in the most aw- 
ful manner ; an immense column of water was thrown 
up, which fell with vast weight upon the deck ; a yawn- 
ing gulph was opened, in which she appeared to have been 
swallowed up. By the light of the explosion, it was dis- 
covered that the forecastle had been blown off. The 
ship's crew soon aft-jr took to their boats, completely pa- 
nick struck. Commodore Hardy was justly indignant 
at this attempt, and protested in strong terms against a 
species of annoyance which he considered dishonourable. 
It had the effect, however, of compelling the enemy to be 
extremely cautious in his approach to our harbours ; and 
although the torpedo system was not afterwards put in 

i)ractice, the enemy's apprehensions from if, served toi 
Leep them at a greater distance. If any thing could i 
justify this mode of attack, it had been the scenes of; 
Hampton, and the deportment of Cockburn and his crew ;' 
but commodore Hardy was a generous enemy, and me- 
rited a different treatment. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 160 



CHAPTER IX. 

Naval affairs — The Hornet captures the Peacock — The Shannon 
captures the Chesapeake — The Pelican captures the Arg-us — 
The Enterprize captures the Boxer — Cruize of commodore 
Porter in the South Seas — Cruize of commodore Rodg-ers— 
Of captain Sterret — The Privateer General Armstrong — The 
Decatur captures the Dominica. 

It is now time to return to the affairs of our navy. Our 
vessels still continued to annoy the enenw,in spite of her 
thousand ships, which hunted them in squadrons through 
every sea. Instead of courting an engagement with 
them, they studiously avoided coming in contact, where 
their force was not greatly superiour. The " fir built fri- 
gates" of America, had all at once become ships of the 
line, and Great Britain razeed or cut down her seventy- 
fours, thatslie might have vessels to engage with ours on 
equal terms. Thus far it was shown to the world, that 
the Americans might yield to superiour force, but could 
not be conquered. 'J'he United States had now become 
so sensible of the importance of their marine, that con- 
gress, during the last session, had authorised the building 
several additional vessels, and it was proposed to conti- 
nue to augmentour navy, by annual appropriations for this 
purpose. This was undoubtedly wise policy ; for what- 
ever we have to fear from a considerable standing army, 
there can be no cause of distrust of a navy. Besides, it 
is only on that element we can come in contact with an 
enemy of consequence. Fortunately for us, our territo- 
ry adjoins to that of no power, trom which we need ap- 
prehend any great danger ; the colonies of England and 
of Spain, might have reason to fear us, if the genius of 
our government were not opposed to conquest; but we 
have no cause to fear them. On the ocean, however, we 
must unavoidably come in contact with other nations, 
as long as we pretend to have commerce ; and without 
a navy that commerce cannot be protected. 



£66 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

In the last chapter, on the subject of our naval war, it 
will be recollected, that the Hornet was left to blockade 
the Bonne Citoyenne, at St. Salvador. This vessel was 
formally challengfd by the Hornet ; but whether from 
her unwillingness to risk the loss of a quantit)^ of specie 
which she had on board, or that she was not inclined to 
engage in the combat, though of superiour force, she 
thought proper to pay no attention to the challenge. — 
Commodore Bainbridge, we have seen, had parted from 
the Hornet at this place, in order that the Bonne Citoy- 
enne might have no excuse for declining the invitation, 
and it will be recollected how gloriously he met the Java 
a few days afterwards. The Hornet continued the 
blockade until the 24th of January, when the Montague 
hove in sight, and compelled her to escape into port. 
She ran out, however, the same night, and proceeded on 
a cruise. Her commander first shaped his course to Per- 
nambuco, and on the 4th of February captured the English 
brig Resolution, of ten guns, with 23,000 dollars in spe- 
cie. He then ran down the coast of Moranham, cruiz- 
ed oft* there a short time, and thence off Surinam,! 
where he also cruized for some time, and on the 22d 
stood for Demerara. The next day, he discovered ani 
English brig of war lying at anchor outside of the bar,i 
and on beating around Carabona Bank, to come near her,; 
he discovered, at half past three in the afternoon, another: 
sail on his weather quarter, edging down for him. Thisi 
proved to be a large man of war brig, the Peacock, cap-i 
tain Peak, somewhat superiour to the Hornet in force. 
Captain Lawrence manoeuvred sometime to gain the wea- 
ther guage, then hoisted the American ensign, tackedi 
about, and in passing each other, they exchanged broad 
sides at the distance of pistol shot. The Peacock bein^ 
then discovered in the act of weai'ing, Lawrence novy 
bore up, received his starboard broadside, ran her dowri 
on board, on the starboard quarter, and poured into hei 
so heavy a fire, that in fifteen minutes she not only sur 
rendered, but hoisted a signal of distress, as she was li 
terally cut to pieces, and had already six feet water ir 
her hold. 



HISTOUY OF THE WAR. 16f 

Lieutenant Shubrick, whose con«luct in this afTair was 
not le^s conspicuous tiian in the actions with tbe Guer- 
riere and Java, was despatched to brino; her ofiicers and 
crew on board the Hornet. He found t lat tie captain 
of the vanquished vessel had b^en ki!l( d, t!.e greater 
part other crew had been either kitied or wounded, and 
that the vessel was sinking fast, in >;pite of every effort 
to keep her aliove water. Everj exertion was made 
to take off the crew before the vessel sunk ; her «un9 
were thrown overboard, the shot holes were plugged, 
and a part of the Hornet's crew, at the risk of their lives, 
laboured incessantly to save the vanquished. The ut- 
most eiforts of these generous men were vain ; she sunk 
in the midst of them, carrying down nine of her own 
crew, and three of the American. Thus did our gallant 
countrymen twice risk their lives, first in the cause of 
their country, and next in the cause of humanity ; firstto 
conquer their enemies, and then to save theni. These 
are actions, which unfortunately fall too rarely to the lot 
of the historian to record. Of all our naval victories, this 
is the one which Americans recollect with most pleasure 5 
and surely there cannot be a higher proof of the generosi- 
ty of feeling which predominates in the nation. The 
crew of the Hornet divided their clothing with the pri- 
soners, who were left destitute by the sinking of the ship ; 
and so sensible were the officers of the generous treat- 
sment, which they experienced from captain Lawrence 
• md his men, that on their arrival at New-York, they ex- 
!, pressed their gratitude in a publick letter of thanks. '•' So 
I. much," say they, " was done to alleviate the uncomfort- 
iible and distressing situation in whioh we were placed, 
i' when received on board the ship you command, that we 
n;:an not better express our feelings, than by saying, we 
fl ceased to consider ourselves prisoners ; and every thing 
,vD:hat friendship ceuld dictate, was adopted by you and the 
lettfficers of the Hornet, to remedy the inconvenience we 
ir 'therwise would have experienced, from the unavoidable 
ii OSS of the whole of our property and clothes, by the sud- 
1 ir'en sinking of the Peacock." This praise is worth more 
han a victory. 



168 firSTORY OF THE WAR. 

The Hornet received but a slight injury ; the number 
of killed and wounded, on board the Peacock, could' 
not be exactly ascertained, but was supposed to exceed 
fifty. The officers mentioned, as having distinguished 
themselves on this occasion, were lieutenants Conner 
and Newton, and midshipmen Cooper, Mayo, Getz, 
Smoot, Tippet, Bcerum and Titus. Lieutenant Stew- 
art was unfortunately too ill to take a part in the action. 

On thff 10th of April, a few days after the arrival of 
the Horned the Chesapeake, that ''ill-omened bark," 
returned to Boston, after a cruize of four munths. Her 
commantJcr captain Evans, having been appointed to 
the New-York station, she was assigned to captain Law- 
rence. 

The British, whose mortification at their repeated de- 
feats may be easily imagined, and who regarded the re-i 
putation of their navy as their great bulwark, had be-t 
come seriously alarmed. If the charm of their fancied 
superiority on this element were once destroyed, other 
nations, who had now yielded to them the palm, might 
conceive the idea of conquering also. A fearful exam 
pie was set to the European workUby America. In somei 
recent rencounters, even the French who had been so uu 
fortunate in their naval combats with the British, had be 
gun to pluck up courage. Something must be done to re 
trieve their naval character, or ail their naval songi 
must be burnt, and their naval boasts must be at an end| 
A course was naturally fallen upon of selecting one o| 
their best frigates, manned by picked seamen, and exertffj 
cised with ail possible pains, for the special purpos€|,| 
They deigned to copy every thing which in realitv, ojif 
which they fancied, prevailed in the American shipfijjj 
There was an idle insinuafion, that American backJ|| 
woods-men were placed in the tops for the purpose ( 
shooting the oflicers. Sharp-shooters were now carefullir.j 
trained, and directed to aim only at the officei^ of tb"'^' 
Americans. Thus provided with a chosen ship, an 
picked seamen, captain Brooke appeared with the Sha 
non on the American coast. In April, otf Boston harhou, 
he seat a bravaUo to the President, commodore Rodij;er|J!? 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 169 

who happened to be there. On the 23d, this vessel, with 
the Congress, captain Smith, sailed on a cruise ; but the 
Shannon, then in company with the Tenedos, either in- 
tentionally avoided them, or by accident happened to be 
out of the way. The Shannon sometime afterwards re- 
turned, and sent a formal challenge to captain Lawrence, 
who had just taken the command; this was unfortunately 
not received by him. 

We are now to relate an occurrence whicli imparts a 
melancholy tinge to our naval chronicle, thus far so bril- 
liant ; an occurrence in which uncontrollable fortune had 
the largest share ; but in the midst of visitations which 
till our hearts with sorrow, we shall find matter of con- 
solation, almost a recompense for our misfortune. Cap- 
tain Lawrence, on arriving to take command of his ship, 
was informed that a British frigate was lying before the 
harbour, apparently courting a combat with an American. 
Listening only to the dictates of his generous nature, 
he burned with impatience to meet the enemy, and 
unfortunately did not sufficiently pause to examine whe- 
ther the terms were equal. The greater part of the 
Chesapeake's crew had been discharged, others to sup- 
ply their places were enlisted, several of his officers were 
sick, and that kind of mutual confidence, arising from a 
knowledge of each other, was wanting between himself 
and his men. But he could not brook the thought of be- 
ing thus defied. On the first of June he sailed forth, re- 
solved to try his fortune. When he came in sight of the 
Shannon, he made a short address to his crew, but found 
it received with no enthusiasm ; they murmured, alleging 
as the cause of complaint, that their prize money had 
not been paid ; he immediately gave them tickets for it, 
and thought they were now reconciled ; but, unfortunate- 
|]y, they were at this moment almost in a state of mutiny. 
[Several foreigners, who had accidentally found their way 
'into the crew, had succeeded in poisoning their minds. 
The brave Lawrence, consulted his own heart, and look- 
ed only to the enemy without, and not to the enemy 
within. 

15 



170 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

The Shannon, observing the Chesapeake, put to sea, 
and was followed by her. At half past live, the Chesa- 
peake closed with the enemy, gave him a broadside, 
which was returned, equally destructive on both sides; 
but the Chesapeake was particularly unfortunate in the 
loss of officers ; the sailing master White, v;as killed ; 
lieutenant Ballard, mortally wounded ; lieutenant Brown, 
of the marines, and captain Lawrence, himself, severely 
wounded : the latter leaned on the companion way, al- 
though in great pain, and still continued to give orders. 
A second and a third broadside were exchanged, with 
evident advantage on the side of the Chesapeake, but the 
same misfortune in loss of officers continued ; the first 
lieutenant Ludlow, was carried below severely wound- 
ed 5 three men were successively shot from the wheel ; a 
shot disabled her foresail, so that she could no longer an- 
swer her helm. Being disabled in her liggiiig, the Chesa- 
peake then fell with her quarter on the Shannon's an- 
chor. 1 his accident may be considered as having de- 
cided the contest; an opportunity was then given ot rak- 
ing the Chesapeake, and, towards the close of the action, 
of boarding. Captain Lawrence, although severelyi 
wounded, still persisted in keeping the deck, now com- 
manded the boarders to be called up ; at this moment a 
musket ball entered his body, and l.e was carried below, 
having first pronounced these memorable words, which 
have become the motto of the American navy, don't give j 
UP THE SHIP. The officers of tlie Chesapeake were near-^^ 
13^ all killed, and the command devolved on lieutenant 
Budd, who called up the men for the puipose of carrying 
the order of Lawrence into execution. At this time 
captain Brook, finding that his vessel had received scj 
many shots betweeli wind and water, that there wasf 
danger of her sinking, and perceiving the confusion 
which reigned on board the American, and yet fearfu; 
that victory might slip from his grasp, threw twenty oi 
his marines on board, and immediately followed themt 
Lieutenant Budd endeavoured to shoot the vessel cleaL. 
of the Shannon ; but being soon after wounded, and il 
part of the crew in a state of mutiny, the scheme entirelf 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 171 

failed. A number, however, still continued to fight with 
unalterable resolution : captain Brooke was shot through 
the neck by Mr. Livermore, the chaplain, who was 
immediately cut down ; but the captain, a moment after, 
received a wound in the head, and was carried on 
board his own ship. Lieutenant Watt, who now com- 
manded the enemy, was shot ; but a large reinforce- 
ment coming to the assistance of the enemy, they 
gained possession of tlie deck, and soon after hoisted the 
English llag. 

In this sanguinary conflict, twenty-three of the enemy 
were killed, and fifty-six wounded ; among the killed, 
her first lieutenant, her clerk, and purser, and amongst 
the wounded her captain. On board the Chesapeake, 
the captain, the first and fourth lieutenant?, the lieu- 
tenant of marines, the master, the midshipmen Hope- 
well, Livingston, Evans, and about seventy men killed ; 
and the second and third lieutenants, the chaplain, 
midshipmen Weaver, Abbot, Nicholls, Berry, and about 
eighty men wounded. The greater proportion of this 
loss was sustained after the enemy had gained the deck. 
The British have been charged with a cruel and ungener- 
ous conduct towards the vanquished. We could wish 
that this charge had been properly repelled, if not true. 
It is said that, after the Americans had submitted, they 
continued the work of destruction, and that the treatment 
j to the prisoners was not of that liberal kind which might 
have been expected from ntanly generosity. Tlie liberali- 
ty of their subsequent conduct, leads us to wish that no 
such complaints could be made against them. The bodies 
of our naval heroes, Lawrence and Ludlow, on their ar- 
rival at Halifax, were interred with every honour, civil, 
naval and military, which they could bestow, and no tes- 
timony of respect that was due to tlieir memories was left 
unpaid. They were afterwards brought to the United 
States, by Mr. Crowningshield of Boston, who obtained a 
'passport from commodore Hardy for the purpose, in a 
i^essel manned by twelve masters of vessels, who volun- 
teered their services on the occasion. 



173 HISTORY OF THE WAR 

The loss of the Chesapeake has been justly attributed 
to the accident of her falling on board the Shannon, and 
to the mutinous state of her crew. She was somewhat 
inferiour in force also, but this ought not to be taken into 
consideration : for until the fatal accident, the advantage 
was decidedly in her favour. However this may be, 
we can spare to Great Britain this victory, as some slight 
consolation for her former and subsequent drubbings. 
And never did any victory produce such extravagant re- 
joicing. Not the land victories of Wellington in Spain, 
nor even the victories of Nelson, called forth such expres- 
sions of satisfaction ; a proof that our naval character 
had risen somewhat in her estimation. In the United 
States it was regarded as an accident, which proved no 
superiority on the part of the British, and it was lament- 
ed chiefly for the loss of our brave officers. 

The tide of fortune seemed for a short time in favour 
of Great Britain. On the fourth of August, another of 
our national vessels was captured by the enemy. The 
Argus, after carrying out Mr. Crawford, our minister to 
France, in the spring of 1813, proceeded, early in June, 
to cruise in the British channel, where she continued for 
two months to commit great havock on the British ship- 
ping. So much uneasiness did she cause, that the Eng- 
lish merchants were unable to effect an insurance on 
their vessels, under three times the usual premium. The 
British government was induced, at last, to send several' 
vessels on purpose to chase off this daring enemy. On 
the fourteenth, at four in the morning, the Pelican, a 
sloop of war, of considerably greater force than the Argus, 
obtained a sight of her by the light of a brig which the 
latter had set on fire. The Argus immediately prepar- 
ed to receive the enemy ; at five o'clock the action com- 
menced at the distance of musket shot, the Pelican hav- 
ing the weather gage. At the first broadside captain 
Allen fell, severely wounded, but remained on deck un- 
til several broadsides were exchanged when he was car- 
ried below, leaving the command to lieutenant Watson. 
At half past six, the rigging of the Argus was so cut up. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 173 

as to render her almost unmanageable ; the lieutenant 
was severely wounded in the head, and the command 
devolved on William H. Allen, Jun. who for some time, 
with great exertions, defeated the attempts of the Peli- 
can to gain a raking position. At thirty -five minutes 
past six, the Argus having lost her wheel ropes, and run- 
ning rigging, could no longer be manceuvred, and the 
Pelican chose a position in which none of the guns of the 
Argus could be brought to bear upon her; she had nothing 
to oppose to repeated raking broadsides, but musketry. 
At forty -seven minutes past six she surrendered, with 
the loss of six killed and seventeen wounded ; on board 
the Pelican there were three killed, and five wounded. 
Captain Allen died soon after in England, together with 
midshipmen Delphy and Edwards, and they were all in- 
terred with the honours of war. The Pelican was a sloop 
of 20 guns, the Argus of 18, but the victory in this in- 
stance may be fairly awarded to the English. Our officers 
and men did their duty, but were compelled to submit 
to a more fortunate adversary. Captain Allen was just- 
ly a favourite in this country, and his death on this occa- 
sion only served to render his memory the more dear 
to his countrymen. To put our ingenuity to the rack 
in finding excuses for this defeat, would be but to imi- 
tate the British, who have not allowed us a single fair 
naval victory, out of at least twenty instances, in which 
their national flag has struck to ours. If accidents may 
happen in twenty successive cases, why may they not 
happen in one or two ; but we do not regard them as 
such. 

By letters dated early in July, news reached the Unit- 
ed States from captain Porter, who had captured seve- 
ral British vessels in the South Seas, and was then cruis- 
ing with great success, his crew in fine health. He had 
actually created a fleet, of nine sail, by means of vessels 
captured on those seas, eight of which had been letters 
of marque ; and he was at this time completely master of 
the Pacific ocean. This may be regarded as a novelty in 
naval incidents ; and there is no doubt, had it been per- 
formed by an English naval commander, it would have 
15* 



174 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

been applauded to the skies, but in an American it was 
the deportment of a buccanier. By none of our com- 
manders has there been so much injury done to British 
commerce ; against none of them have they been so pro- 
fuse in their invective. On the list of his captures were 
two fine English ships, pierced for twenty guns, and car- 
rying between them sixteen, with fifty-five men, and on 
board a considerable sum in specie. On the twenty -sixth 
of March, he fell in with a Spanish ship, the Nereyda, 
which had been engaged in capturing American ships ; he 
took the liberty of throwing her guns overboard, and 
liberating the ships and prisoners, the pirate had captur- 
ed. This is probably one of the grounds upon which 
commodore Porter has heed charged with the conduct of 
a buccanier. 

The British were not long permitted to rejoice in 
the conquest of the Argus ; victory once more returned 
to the side of justice, " free trade and sailor's rights." 
The brig Enterprize, lieutenant William Burrows, sailed 
from Portsmouth on a cruise, about the first of Septem- 
ber. On the fifth, a large man of war brig was discover- 
ed, to which he gave chase. The enemy, after firing se- 
veral guns, stood for the Enterprize with several eiasigns 
hoisted. She proved to be the Boxer, offwce somewhati 
superiour to the Enterprize. At twenty minutes after 
three, the firing commenced on both sides, within pistol 
shot. After the action had continued fifteen minutes the 
Enterprize ranged ahead, and raked her, wh'rh she con- 
tinued for twenty minutes, when the enemy ceased fir- 
ing, and cried for quarter, being unable to haul down her 
ilag, as it had been nailed to the mast. The Enterprize 
bad one killed and thirteen wounded, but that one 
was the lamented Burrows. He fell at the commence- 
iiient of the action, and refused to quit the deck, but rais- 
ing his head, with a noble spirit, he requested that the 
fiag might never be struck. When the sword of the 
enemy was presented to him, he exclaimed with enthu- 
siasm, clasping it to his breast, '* I die contented ;" and 
not till then would he permit himself to be carried be- 
low. Who Vvill say that such a death is not truly hero-j 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 175 

jck ? while such a spirit resides in the breasts of our sea- 
men, they may indeed be called invincibles ; their bodies 
may be subdued, but their souls never can. The British 
loss was much more considerable, but not properly as- 
certained ; it is supposed, however, that between thirty 
and forty killed and wounded, among the former her 
commander, captain Blythe. The bravado of nailing the 
flag to the mast, is an additional proof of the terrour in 
which the Americans were now held by the enemy, which 
before affected to despise them. The contrivance of 
nailing the flag, was probably borrowed from the Odyssey, 
where Ulysses caused himself to be bound to the mast, 
that he might escape the song of the Syrens, which even 
his great wisdom could not withstand. 

The two commanders, both promising young men, 
were interred beside each other at Portland, with mili- 
tary honours. The British, as usual, set themselves to 
work to detract from the honours of this victory. 

On the 26th of September, the President, commodore 
Rodgers, arrived at Newport, Rhode-Island, after a 
cruize of unusual length. He put to sea on the 30th of 
April, in company with the Congress, captain Smith. 
After cruizing off our coast without any important oc- 
currence, they parted on the 8th of May, and the com- 
modore shaped his course to intercept the British West 
India trade ; but meeting with nothing in this quarter, he 
stood towards the Azores, where he continued until the 
6th of June, without meeting any of the enemy's vessels. 
From information which he now received, he shaped his 
course to intercept the convoy from the West Indies to 
England. In this he was not successful, but made four 
captures, between the 9th and ISth of June. He next 
cruized in the track from Newfoundland to St. George's 
Channel, but without meeting a single vessel 5 being 
short of provisions, he put into North Bergen on the 
Q7ih of June. He thence steered towards the Orkneys^ 
t-o intercept a convoy from Archangel; but about the 
middle of July, when in momentary expectation of meet- 
ing with it, he was chased by a ship of the line and a 
frigate, for several days, owing to the lightness of the 



176 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

winds. He next steered to gain the direction of the trade 
passing out and into the Irish Channel. In this position 
he made three captures; but finding that the enemy had 
a superiour force near this, he made a circuit round Ire- 
land, and then steered for the banks of Newfoundland, 
where he made two captures. On the 23d of September, 
he captured, in a singular manner, the British schooner 
Highflyer, tender to admiral Warren ; on her approach 
to the President, she hoisted a private signal, which was 
accidentally answered by one that proved to be the Bri- 
tish signal for that day; she accordingly bore down and 
was captured. By this means the British private signals, 
and admiral Warren's private instructions, were ob- 
tained, and which enabled the commodore to avoid their 
squadrons on the coast. He soon after arrived at New- 
port. 

The Congress, after parting from the President, con- 
tinued her cruize until the 12th of December, when she 
arrived at Portsmouth, N. H. She had cruized chiefly 
on the coast of South America, and had captured a num- 
ber of the enemy's vessels, amongst others two armed 
brigs of ten guns each. 

It has already been said, that the character of our flag 
at sea, was not merely supported by our national vessels : 
there were numerous instances in which our private crui- 
zers acquitted themselves in a manner to gratify the pride 
of any people. But the publick attention was so much oc- 
cupied with the first, that the latter perhaps has not re- 
ceived a due share of applause. A few instances may be 
selected from amongst a number. Perhaps no action 
during the war displayed more daring courage, and won- 
derful superiority of seamanship, than the engagement 
of the Comet, captain Boyle; with a Portuguese brig, 
and three armed merchantmen. After engaging them all 
four, and fighting them several hours, he compelled one 
of the merchantmen to surrender, and the brig to sheer 
off, although double the force of the Comet. This would 
appear almost incredible, if the details were not perfectly 
satisfactory. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 177 

On the eleventh of March, the General Armstrong, oft* 
Surrinam, discovered a sail which she supposed to be a 
letter of marque, and after giving her a broadside, and 
wearing to give another, to their surprise they found they 
were along side of a frigate, which soon opened such a 
heav}"- fire, as would have sunk the schooner, had she not 
succeeded in making her escape. 

On the 15th of August, the privateer Decatur, being on 
a cruize, discovered a ship and a schooner; the first 
proved to be the British packet, the Princess Charlotte, 
the other the British vessel of war, the Dominica. She 
immediately stood towards them, and soon found herself 
abreast of the schooner. Both vessels continued to ma- 
noeuvre for two or three hours, the Dominica endeavour- 
ing to escape, and the Decatur to board ; during which 
time several broadsides were fired by the former, and. 
some shot from the large gun of the latter. The Decatur 
at last succeeded In boarding, a number of her men pass- 
ing by means of her bowsprit into the stern of the other. 
The fire from the artillery and musketry was now terri- 
ble, being well supported on both sides. The Dominica 
not being able to disengage herself, dropped along side 
of the Decatur, and was thus boarded by her whole crew. 
Fire-arms now became useless, and the crews fought 
hand to hand, with cutlasses and cold shot. The officers 
of the Dominica being all killed and wounded, she was 
forced to surrender. As soon as the combat was over, 
the Princess Charlotte tacked about, and escaped. 

The Decatur was armed with six twelve-pound car- 
ronades, and one eighteen pounder on a pivot, with one 
hundred and tliree men. Her loss was three killed and 
sixteen wounded. The Dominica had twelve twelve- 
pound carronades, two long sixes, and one brass four- 
pounder, and one thirty -two pound carronade on a pivot, 
with eighty-three men. She had thirteen killed, and 
forty-seven wounded. The surviving officers of the Do- 
minica attributed the loss of their vessel to the superiour 
skill of the Decatur's crew in the use of musketry, and 
the masterly manceuvring of that vessel, by which their 
carriage guns were rendered useless. The captain had 



ITS HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

been a young man of about twenty-five years of age ; he 
was wounded early in the action ; but he fought to the 
last moment, declaring that he would only surrender his 
vessel with his life. 

The Decatur arrived at Charlestown with her prize on 
the 20th of August. It is pleasing to record, that in this 
instance our brave tars did not depart from their accus- 
tomed generosity. Tlie surviving officers of the Domi- 
nica spoke in the highest terms of the humanity and at- 
tention which tliey experienced from the victors. 



CHAPTER X. 



Affairs of the West— Patrlotick conduct of Ohio and Kentucky- 
Defence of Sandusky — Generosity of the Americans — Naval 
preparations on Lake Erie — Commodore Perry sails with his 
rieet— Capture of the enem}''s Squadron— Battle of the 
Thames, and death of Tecumseh— Correspondence between 
General Harrison and General Vincent. 

I.v the midst of the various occurrences of the war, on 
the nortliern frontier, on the sea-board, and on the ocean, 
important preparations were making to the westward ; 
and although the spring and summer had passed away, 
without any incident in this quarter worthy of being re- 
corded, they had not passed inactive. The general at- 
tention was now turned towards it with much anxiety, 
and the armies of the Niagara and St. Lawrence, re- 
mained almost with folded arms, awaiting the issue of 
Harrison's campaign, and the result of the contest for the 
mastership cf Lake Erie. The British, aware of the con- 
sequence of a defeat, had with great assiduity laboured 
to strengthen themselves. The reinforcements conti- 
nually arriving at Fort George, were evidently destined 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 179 

to follow up the advantages which Proctor might gain, in 
conjunction with the commander on the lake. In the 
meanwhile, in the neighbouring states of Kentucky and 
Ohio, the people were excited in a most surprising de- 
gree ; had it been necessary they would have risen en 
masse ; almost every man capable of bearing a musket, 
was anxious to march. The Governour of Ohio had 
scarcely issued his proclamation, calling on volunteers, 
(for theobligationsof law to render military service were 
no longer thought of.) than fifteen thousand men present- 
ed themselves, completely armed and equipped — more 
than five times the number required. The venerable go- 
vernour of Kentucky, Shelby, a revolutionary hero, and 
the Nestor of the present war, made it known that he 
would put himself at the head of the injured citizens of 
that state, and lead them to seek revenge for ti e murder 
of their relatives and friends; but limited the number of 
volunteers to four thousand. The state of Kentucky, 
called by the natives, "the dark and bloody ground," 
forty years ago was a dark uninhabited forest, possessed 
by no tribe of Indians; but from time immemorial had 
been the theatre of sanguinary wars. At this day, it 
blooms beneath the hand of agriculture, it is filled with 
beautiful towns and villages, and is the abode of peace, 
opulence and refinement. The inhabitants are descend- 
ed from many of the best families of V^irginia and North 
Carolina, and the enterprising and intelligent of the other 
states. Living in abundance and at their ease, and more 
remote from tiie seats of commerce, they have imbibed 
less of foreign attachments or ieelings, than any of our 
people; and are perhaps more enthusiastically devoted 
to the institutions of freedom. They have not a little of 
the manners of chivalry in their generous and hospitable 
deportment. Fearless of danger, regarding dishonour 
more than death, but with these qualities, a benevolence 
and humanity, which has scarcely a parallel. Had the 
elder brethren of our confederacy acted like this younger 
member, the Canadas would have been ours, and Britain 
would never have dared to insult us with her unwarranta- 
ble pretensions. 



180 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

The transactions which are now to be related, may 
justly rank amongst the most pleasing to our feelings and 
national pride, of any which took place during the con- 
test. The campaign opened with an affair, which tlioue;h 
comparatively of smaller consequence tlian some others, 
is in its circumstances one of the most brilliant that oc- 
curred during the war. This was fthe unparalleled de- 
fence of Fort Sandusky, by a youth of twenty-one years 
of age. In August, and before the arrival of the Ohio 
and Kentucky volunteers, which did not take place until 
the following month, threatening movements had been 
made upon all the different forts, established by the Ame- 
ricans on the rivers which fall into Lake Erie. After the 
siege of Fort Meigs, the British had been considerably 
reinforced by regulars, and an unusual number of Indians 
under their great leader Tecumseh. It was all-important 
to reduce these forts before the arrival of the volunteers. 
Major Croghan, then commanding at Upper Sandusky, 
having received intimation that the enemy were about to 
invest the fort of Lower Sandusky, had marched to this 
place with some additional force, and been occupied with 
great assiduity in placing it in the best posture of defence. 
But the only addition of importance, which the time 
would allow him to make, was a ditch of six feet deep 
and nine feet wide, outside the stockade of pickets, by 
which these hastily constructed forts are enclosed, but 
which can afford but a weak defence against artillery. 
He had but one six pounder, and about one hundred and 
sixty men, consisting of regulars, and detachments of the 
Pittsburgh and Petersburgh volunteers. General Harri- 
son, not conceiving it practicable to defend the place, or- 
dered young Croghan to retire on the approach of the 
enemy, after having destroyed the works. This our 
young hero, taking the responsibility upon himself, de- 
termined to disobey. 

On the first of August, General Proctor, having left ai 
large body of Indians under Tecumseh, to keep up the 
appearance of a siege of Fort Meigs, arrived at Sandusky; 
with about five hundred regulars, seven hundred Indians, 
and some gun boats. After the general had made suchi 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 181 

dispositions of his troops as to cut off* the retreat of the 

garrison, he sent a flag by colonel F^Uiot and major Cham- 
ers, demandinir a surrender, accompanied with the 
usual base and detestable threats, of butchery and cold 
blood massacre, if the i^arrison should hold out. A spi- 
rited answer was returned by Croghan, who found that 
all !iis companions, chiefly striplings like himself, would 
suj^port him to the last. 

When tlie flag returned, a brisk fire was opened from 
the gun boats and a howitzer, and which was kept up 
during the night. In the morning, they opened witli 
three sixes, wiiich had been planted under cover of the 
night within two hundred and fifty yards of the pickets, 
but not with much eff*ect. About four o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, it was discovered that the enemy had concen- 
trated his fire against the north-west angle, with the in- 
tention of making a breach. This part was immediately- 
strengthened by the apposition of bags of flour and sand, 
so that the pickets suffered but little injury. JJuring this 
time, the six pounder was carefully concealed in the bas- 
tion which covered the point to be assailed, and it was 
loaded with slugs and grape. About five hundred of the 
enemy now advanced in close column to assail the part 
vhere it was supposed the pickets must have been injur- 
ed : at the same time making several feints, to draw the 
attention of the besieged to other parts of the fort: their 
force being thus divided, a column of three hundred and 
fifty men, which were so enveloped in smoke as not to 
be seen until they approached within twenty paces of 
the lines, advanced rapidly to the assault. A fire of 
musketry from the fort, for a moment threw them into 
confusion ; but were thus quickly rallied by colonel Short, 
their commander, who now springing over the outer 

1 works into the ditch, commanded the rest to follow, cry- 
ing out, *• give the d — d Yankees no quarter!" Scarcely- 
had these detestable words escaped his lips, and the 
greater part of his followers landed in the ditch, when the 
six pounder opened upon them a most destructive tire, 
killing and wounding the greater part, and amongst the 
first the wretched leader, who was sent into eteVnity be- 
16 



182 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

fore his words had died upon the air. A volley of mus- 
ketry was, at the same time, fired upon those who had 
not ventured. The officer who succeeded Short, exas- 
perated at being thus treated by a few boys, formed his 
broken column, and again rushed to the ditch, where he, 
and those who dared to follow him, met with the same 
fate as their fellow soldiers. The small arms were again 
j)laved on them, the whole British force was thrown into 
confusion, and in spite of the exertions of their officers, 
fled to the woods, almost panick struck, whither they were 
soon followed by the Indians. Thus were these men, 
confident of success, and detestable in the intended use 
of victory, most signally chastised, under Providence, by 
a force scarce a tenth of their numbers. Terrour inde- 
scribable took possession of the assailants, ^nd they re- 
treated towards their boats, scarcely daring to cast their 
eyes towards the fatal spot, while they were followed by 
their allies in sullen silence. 

If this gallant defence deserves the applause of the 
brave, the subsequent conduct of the besieged deserves the 
praise of every friend of humanity. The scene which now- 
ensued deserves to be denominated sublime. The little 
band, forgetting i n a moment that they had been assailed by 
merciless foes, who sought to massacre them without re- 
garding the laws of honourable war, now felt only the de- 
sire of relieving wounded men, and of ad ministering com- 
fort to the wretched. Had they been friends, had they been 
brothers, they could not have experienced a more tender 
solicitude. The whole night was occupied in endeavour- 
ing to assuage tlieir suiferings ; provisions and buckets of 
water, were handed over the pickets, and an opening was 
made, by which manyof the sufterers were taken in, who 
\i'eie immediately supplied with surgical aid; and this, 
although a firing was kept up with small arms by the ene- 
my, until some time in the night. The loss of the garri- 
son amounted to one killed and seven wounded; that of 
U\(i enemy, it is supposed, to at least two hundred. Up- 
wards of fifty were found in a!id about the ditch. It was 
discovered next njorning, that the enemy had iiastily re- 
treated, leJving a boat and a considerable quantity of mi- 
litary stores. Upwards of seventy stand of arms were 



HISTORY OF THE WA^. 183 

taken, besides a quantity of ammunition. The Ameri- 
cans were engaged during the day, in burying the dead 
with the honours of war, and providing for the wounded. 

This exploit called forth the admiration of every party 
in the United States: Croghan, together with his com- 
panions, captain Hunter, and lieutenants Johnson, Bay- 
ley, and Meeks, of the 17th; Anthony, of the ^4th ; and 
ensigns Ship and Duncan, of the 17th, together with the 
other officers and volunteers, were highly complimented 
by the general. They afterwards received the thanks of 
congress. Croghan was promoted to the rank of lieu- 
tenant colonel, and was presented with an elegant sword 
by the ladies of Chillicothe. 

Soon after this affair Tecumseh raised the siege of fort 
Meigs, and followed Proctor to Detroit; all hope was 
given up by the enemy of reducing these forts, until they 
could gain the ascendency on the lake. 

The utmost exertions had been made in the meanwhile, 
by captain Perry, to complete the naval armament on 
Lake Erie. By the fourth of August^ the fleet was com- 
pleted ; but several of the vessels were with difficulty 
got over the bar, on which there are but five feet water. 
He saile<l in quest of the enemy, hut not meeting him, re- 
turned on the eighth, and after receiving a reinforcement 
of sailors, brought by captain Elliot, sailed again on the 
twelfth, and on the fifteenth anchored in the bay of San- 
dusky. Here, after taking in about twenty volunteer 
marines, he again went in quest of the enemy ; and after 
cruizing oft' Maiden, returned to Put-in-Bay, a distance 
of thirty miles. His fleet consisted of the brig Lawrence, 
of 20 guns; the Niagara, captain Elliot, of 20; the Ca- 
ledonian, lieutenant Turner, 3 ; the schooner Ariel, of 4 ; 
the Scorpion, of 2; the Somers, of 2, and 2 swivels ; the 
sloop Trippe, and schooners Tygress and Porcupine, of 
1 gun each; making a fleet of nine vessels and 54 guns. 
On the morning of the tenth of September, the enemy was 
discovered bearing down upon the American squadron, 
which immediately got under weigh, and stood out to 
meet him. The superiority was decidedly in favour of 
ilie British : the Americans had three more vessels, but 



184 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

this was much more than counterbalanced bj the size oF 
tho:-? of the enemy, and the number ot their guns. Their 
fleet consisted of the Detroit, captain Barclay, of 19 guns, 
and 9, howitzers : the Queen Charlotte, of 17 guns, cap- 
tain Finnis; the schooner Lady Prevost, lieutenant Bu- 
chan, of 13 guns, and 2 howitzers ; the brig Hunter, of 
10 guns; the sloop Little Belt, of 3; and the schooner 
Ciiippewa, of 1 gun and ^ two swivels ; in all six vessels 
aiul C>5 u,uns. 

W he; the Americans stood out, the British fleet had 
thtr weatherguage; but the wind soon after changed, and 
brought the American fleet to windward The line of 
battle V, as formed at eleven, and at fifteen minutes be- 
fo»'e twelve, the enemy's flag ship, the Queen Charlotte, 
opened her fire upon the Lav/rence, which she sustained 
for ten minutes, before she could approach near enough 
for her carronades to return. She therefore bore up, 
making signals for the other vessels to hasten to her sup- 
port, <*Mid about twelve, brought her guns to bear upon the 
enemy Unfortunately, the wind being too light, the re- 
mainder of the squadron could not be brought up to her 
assistance, and she was compelled to contend, for two 
hours, with two ships of equal force. The contest was, 
notwithstanding, kept up with unshaken courage, and a 
degree of coolness which deserves the highest admiration. 
By this time the brig, which had so long borne the brunt 
of the whole of the British force, had become entirely un- 
manageable; every gun was dismounted, and, with the 
excf ption of four or five, her whole crew either killed or 
wounded. Perry now, with admirable presence of mind, 
and which drew forth the praise of the gallant officer to 
whom he was opposed, resolved to shift his flag, leaped 
into his boat, and heroically waving his sword, passed 
unhurt to the Niagara. At the moment he reached the 
Niagara, he saw with anguish the flag of his ship come 
down ; she was utterly unable to make further resistance, 
and it would have been a wanton waste of the remaining 
lives, to continue the contest; the enemy was not able 
to take possession of her. Captain Elliot, seconding tha 
design of the commodore, volunteered to bring up t\n 



♦ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 185 

rest of the fleet ; for at this critical moment the wind had 
providentially increased. Perry now bore down upon 
the enemy with a fresh ship; and passing ahead of the 
Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, poured a 
destructive broadside into each from his starboard, and 
from his larboard into the Chippewa and Little Belt. In 
this manner cuttincr through the line, he was within pis- 
tol shot of the Lady Prevost, which received so heavy a 
fire as to compel her men to run below. At this moment 
the Caledonia came up, and opened her fire ; several 
others of the squadron were enabled soon after to do the 
same. For a time, this novel and important combat 
mingled with indescribable violence and fury. The issue 
of a campaign, the mastery of a sea, the glory and re- 
nown of two rival nations, matched for the first time in 
squadron, were the incentives to the contest. But it 
was not long before the scale turned in favour of Perry, 
and his ship, the Lawrence, was again enabled to hoist 
her flag. The Queen Charlotte, having lost her captain 
and all the principal officers, by some mischance ran foul 
of the Detroit, and the greater part of the guns of both 
ships were rendered useless. They were now compelled 
to sustain, in turn, an incessant fire ft Oin the Niagara, 
and the other vessels of the squadron. The flag of cap- 
tain Barclay was soon after struck, and those of the 
Queen Charlotte,, the Lady Prevost, the Hunter, and the 
Chippewa, came down in succession : the Little Belt at- 
tempted to escape, but was pursued by two gua boats 
and captured. 

Thus, after a contest of three hours, was this unparal- 
leled naval victory achieved, in which every vessel of the 
enemy was captured ; the first occurrence ot the kind ever 
recorded. If any thing could heighten this glorious vic- 
tory, it was the modest yet sublime manner in which it 
was announced by the incomparable Perry; said he, we 

HAVE MET THE ENEMY, AND THEY ARE OURS. Britain 

had been beaten in single coiiibat; she was now beaten 
in squadron, where she had conceived herself invincible* 
The loss in this bloody affair, was very great in propor- 
tion to the numbers engaged. The Americans had 
. 16*- 



186 HISTORY OF THE WAR. ♦ 

twenty-seven killed and ninety-six wounded ; amongst 
tlie first, were lieutenant Brooks, of the marines, and 
midshipman Laub; amongst the latter, were lieutenant 
Yarnell. sailing-master Taylor, purser Hamilton, and 
n>idshipinen Claxton and Swartwout. The loss of the 
British was about two hundred in killed and wounded, 
and the number of prisoners amounted to six hundred, 
exceeding, the whole number of the Americans. Com- 
modore Barclav, a gallant officer, who had lost an arm at 
the battle of Trafalgar, was severely wounded, and the 
loss of officers, on the side of the British, was unusually 
great. Among the officers particularly spoken ot on this 
occasion, were captain Elliot, lieutenants Turner, Ed- 
waids. Forest, Clark, and Cummings, besides those al- 
ready mentioned. 

ISever was any event received with such unbounded 
denu)nstrations of joy. All party feelings were for a 
moment forgotten, and this glorious occurrence cele-^^ 
brated by illuminations and festivals, from one end of the 
continent to the other. 

It is highly gtatiiying to know^» that the treatment of 
the Britisl^ prisoners was such, as to call forth their 
thariks. Captain Barclay declared, that " the conduct 
of commodore Perry lowards the captive officers and 
»ien, was sufficient, of itself, to immortalize him.** 

We were now masters of the lake | but our territory 
T^'as stiii in the possession of Proctor. The next move- 
ment would be a«ainst the British and Indians at De- 
troit, and at Maiden. General Harrison called on a 
portion of the Ohio militia, which had been enibodied ; 
and on the seventli, four thousand Kentuckians. theflowes 
of the state, witii their venerable governour, Isaac Shelby, 
the hero of king's mountain, at their head, arrived at 
Harrison's camp. W'ith the co-operation of the fleet, it 
was determined to proceed at once to Maiden : and at 
the same moment, colonel Johnson was ordered to pro* 
eeed w ith a body of Kentuckians to Detroit, 'i'hese ac- 
Goidingly marched ; but on approaching the river Raisin, 
^here those scenes ot horroui had been acted, they halted 
sometime to contemplate the tragick spot. The feelings 




wm"\' 



'''lifilfFt^a ;-"'*' 



1 iiniiil 



.Jill,; „,.=;ii!i!ili!lll!ll!i!' 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 18f 

which they experienced on this occasion, cannot be de- 
sert hod ; many of them had lost their friends and rela- 
tions, whose bones they now gathered up, after in vain 
attempting to distinguish them ; and therefore consigned 
them to a common grave, with tlie most affecting demon- 
strations of ji;rief. 

On the 27th, the troojis were received on board, and 
on the same day reached a point below Maiden. The 
British general had in the meanwhile destroyed the fort 
and publick stores, and had retreated along the Thatr->es, 
towards the Moravian villages, together with Tecumseh*s 
Indiaiis. A number of females came out to implore the 
protection of the American general, as though it had been 
necessary; general Harrison had given orders that even 
Proctor, if taken, should not be hurt; nay, the dwelling 
of the obnoxious Elliot, was not even touciied by tiie 
magnanimous Kentuckians, who had been represented by 
Proctor as savages. 

It was now resolved by Harrison and Shelby, to pro- 
ceed imniediately in pursuit of Proctor. On the second 
of October, they marched with about three tl^ousand live 
hundred men, selected for the purpose, consisting of co- 
lonel Ball's dragoons, colonel Johnson's. regiment, and 
other detachments of governour Shelby's volunteers* 
The heroick Perry accompanied general Harrison, as a 
volunteer aid. I'hey moveil with such rapidity, that they 
encamped the first day at the distance of twenty -six 
miles. The next day they captured a guard, by uhom 
they learned that Proctor was not aware of their ap- 
proach, but had sent to destroy tlie bridges. On the 
fuui th, they were detained some time by a deep creek, 
the bridge over which had been partly destroyed; and a 
number of Indians commenced an attack from the oppo- 
site bank, but were dispersed by colotiel Johnson, and the 
artillery of major Wood, while the bridge was repaired. 
On the'^other side, they captured two thousand stand of 
arms; the houses containing the enemy's publick stores, 
together witli several vessels were on fire. On the tilth, 
the pursuit was renewed, when, after capturing some 
property to a considerable amount, they reached the place 



188 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

where the enemy had encamped the night before. Colo- 
nel Johnson was sent forward, to reconnoitre the Brifish 
and Indian forces; and he very soon returned with in- 
formation, that they had made a stand a faw miles dis- 
tant, and were ready for action. They were drawn up 
across a narrow strip of land, covered with beach trees, 
and hemmed in on one side by a swamp, and on the other 
by the river; their left rested on the river, supported by 
their artillery; and their rii^ht consisted of the Indians 
under Tecumseh, who occupied the more dense forest in 
the vicinity of the morass. 

The American troops were now formed in order of 
battle. General Trotter's brigade formed the front line, 
with general Desha's division en potence on the left. Ge- 
neral King's brigade formed a second line, in the rear of 
general Trotter, and Chile's, as a corps of reserve ; both 
under the command of major-general Henry. Each bri- 
gade averaged 500 men. The angle formed by Desha's 
brigade and Trotter's, was occupied by the venerable 
Shelby, i'he regular troops, amounting to one hundred 
and twenty men, were farmed in columns, occupying a 
narrow space between the road and the river, for the pur- 
pose of seizing the artillery, should the enemy be repuls- 
ed. General Harrison had at first ordered colonel John- 
son's mounted men to form in two lines, in front of the 
Indians; but the underwood being too close here for ca- 
valry to act with any effect, he determined upon a mode 
of attack altogether new. Knovv^ing the dexterity of the 
backwood's-men in riding tlwough forests, and the little 
inconvenience to tiiem of carrying their rifles in such a 
situation, he determined to refuse his left to the Indians 
and charge on the regulars, drawn up among the beech- 
trees ; the mounted regiment was accordingly drawn up 
in front. The army moved on but a short distance ia 
this way, when the mounted men received the enemy's 
fire, and were instantly ordered to charge. The horses, 
in front of the colutnn, at first recoiled from the fire ; but 
soon after got in motion, and immediately at full speed 
brcke through the enemy with irresistible force. In one 
minute the contest was over in front. The mounted m^tu 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 189 

instantly formed in their rear, and poured a destructive 
fire, and were about to make another charge, when the 
British officers, finding it impossible to form their broken 
ranks, immediately surrendered. 

Upon the left, the onset was begun by Tecumseh with 
great fury. Colonel R. M. Johnson, wlio commanded on 
that flank of his regiment, received a galling fire, which 
he returned with effect, while the Indians advanced to- 
wards the point occupied by s;overnour Shelby, and at 
first made an impression on it; but the aged warriour 
brought a regiment to its support. The combat now 
raged with increasing fury ; the Indians to the number of 
twelve or fifteen hundred, seemed determined to main- 
tain their ground to the last. The terrible voice of Te- 
cumseh could be distinctly heard, encouraging his war- 
riours; and although beset on every side, excepting on 
that of the morass, they foui;ht with more determined 
courage than had ever been witnessed in these people. 
An incident soon occurred, however, which decided the 
contest. Colonel Johnson rushed towards the spot where 
the warriours, clustering around their undaunted chief, 
appeared resolved to perish by his side; in a moment a 
hundred rifles were aimed at the American, whose uni- 
form and t''<e white horse which he rode rendered a con- 
spicuous object; his holsters, dress, and accoutrements, 
were pierced with bullets, his horse and himself rec<dv- 
ing a numl)er of wounds. At the instant his horse was 
abo"!t to sink under him, the daring Kentuekian, covered 
witii blood from his wounds, was discovered by Tecum- 
seh. ; the chief having discharged his rifle, sprang forward 
with his ti.mahawk, but struck with the appearance of the 
warriour who stood before him, hesitated for a moment,, 
and that moment was his last. The Kentuekian levelled 
a pistol at his breast, and they both, almost at the same 
instant, fell to the ground.* The Kentuckians rushed 

* Colonel Johnson is still a member of congress. In this affair 
I have adopted the popular story : but I am aware that it has 
been denied that the Indian kdled by colonel Johnson was Te- 
cumseh. Uniil it shall be formally denied by him, I shall think 
it my duty to relate the story as 1 find it*. 



190 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

forward to the rescue of their leader, and the Indians, m 
longer hearing the voice of Tecumseh, soon after fled 
Near the spot where this scene occurred, thirty Indians 
were found dead, and six whites. 

Thus fell Tecumseh, the most celebrated Indian war 
riour that ever raised the tomahawk against us, and witl^ 
him fell the last hope of our Indian enemies. This 
mighty warriour was the determined foe of civilization 
and had for years been labouring to unite all the Indiat 
tribes in opposing the progress of the settlements to th< 
westward. Had such a man opposed the European colo 
nists on their first arrival, this continent, in all proba 
bility, w»uld still have been a wilderness. To those whc 
prefer a savage, uncultivated waste, inhabited by wolves 
and panthers, and by men more savage still, to the busj 
city, to the peaceful hamlet and cottage, to science anc 
the comforts of civilization, to such it may be a source o 
regret that Tecumseh came too late. But if the cultiva 
lion of the earth, and the cultivation of the human intel- 
lect and the human virtues, are agreeable in the sight o 
the Creator, it may be a just cause of felicitation that this 
champion of barbarism was the ally of Great Britain, a; 
a period, when he could only draw doxfti destruction oi 
his own head, by savagely daring what was beyond hil 
strength. But Tecumseh fell respected by his enemies 
^s ?^ great and a iiia^narii?iiua» cmei. Aitiiough he seldoti 
took prisoners in battle, he treated well those that hac 
been taken by others ; and, at the defeat of Dudley, ac 
tually put to death a chief whom he found engaged in th< 
work of massacre. He had been in almost every engage 
ment with the whites since Harmer's defeat, although a 
his death, he scarcely exceeded forty 3 ears of age. Te 
cumseh had received the stamp of greatriess from th< 
hand of nature, and had his lot been cast in a differen 
state of society, he would have shone as one of the mos 
distinguished of men. He was endowed with a powerfu 
mind, with the soul of a hero. There was an uncommor 
dignity in his countenance and manners ; by the formei 
he could be easily discovered even after death. aii)on< 
the rest of the slain, for he wore no insignia of distmctioni 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 191 

When girded with a silk sash, and told bj general Proc- 
tor that be was made a hrig;.dier in the British service, 
for his conduct at Brownstown and Magagua, he returned 
the present with respectful contempt. Born with no citle 
to command, but his native greatness, every tribe yielded 
subn>ission to him at once, and no one ever disputed his 
precedence. Subtle and fierce in war, he was possessed 
of uncommon eloquence, — his speeches might bear a com- 
parison with those ot the most celebrated orators of 
Greece or Rome. His invective was terrible, as we had 
frequent occasion to experience, and as may be seen in 
the reproaches which he applied to Proctor, a few days 
before his death, in a speech which was found amongst 
the papers of the British officers. His form was uncom- 
monly elegant; his stature about six feet, his limbs per- 
fectly proportioned. He was honourably interred by the 
victors, by whom he was held in much respect, as an in- 
veterate, but a magnanimous enemy. 

In this engagement the British loss was nineteen regu- 
lars killed, and fifty wounded, and about six hundred 
prisoners. The Indians left one hundred and twenty on 
the field. The American loss, in killed and w.ounded, 
amounted to upwards of fifty ; seventeen of the slain 
were Kentuckians, and among tl'em, colonel Whitely, 
1 soldier of the revolution, who served on this occasion 
IS a private. Several pieces of brass cannon, the tro- 
phies of our revolution, surrendered by Hull, were once 
nore restored to our country. Proctor had fled as soon 
IS the charge was made, and by m?ans of swift horses, 
ivas enabled to escape down tlie Thames,^ though hotly 
)ursued. His carriage was, however, taken, in which his 
; )rivate papers had been left, in the haste of his retreat. 
e The time was now come, which would prov- whether 
ithe stigma cast upon the chivalrous people of Kentucky 
stty the infamous Proctor, in order that h(s own atrocious 
ilonduct ttiight escape notice, was founded in truth. It 
invas now seen whether, to use the words of this mouster, 
!they were a "ferocious and mortal foe, Uijing the same 
ipode of warfare, with ilie allies of Britain.'* The re- 
otlection of the afiair of the River Raisiu might have jus- 



m HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

tified revenge : and wliat is more, the instruments wli© 
pe) petrated those horrid deeds were now at their dispo- 
sal ; bereft of hope by this si«;nal defeat and the loss of 
their isvreat leader, the savages sued for peace, and as an 
earnest of their sincerity, offered to raise their toma- 
hawks on the side of the United States, and to inflict 
upon the British prisoners, the same abominable cruel 
ties, they had practised on the Americans. But • 
Kentuckians, to their honour, far from giving way to the 
passions of revenge, forebore even a word, or look of 
insult: there v/as not even an allusion to the murder of 
their I i others and friends; the prisoners were distributed 
in small parties, in the interiour towns, and although ex- 
tremely insulting m their dt [lortment, were not merely 
treated with humanity, but in many places actually ca- 
ressed and fed with dainties by the compassion; te inhabi- 
tants. This trjeatment was carried to an excess, wiiich 
might properly deserve the name of folly, were it not a 
noble mode of revenge for what our countrymen at thai 
mon»ent endured in the British dungeons on the land, and 
in the floating prisons on th.* sea, where they underwent 
every species of distress, wretchedness and torture. 

Nor was the treatment of the conquered savages lesf 
generous. Peace was granted to them, and during th< 
succeeding v inter they were actually subsisted at thf 
publick expense. They stipulated to raise the tomahawli 
against their former friends, but engaged not to assaifc 
the defenceless and the non-combatant.* |i| 

The Indian war being now settled, and security rejjj 
stored to our frontier, the greater part of the vo!unteer||( 
were permitted to return home; and Harrison, after stalui] 
tioning general Cass at Detroit, with about one thousanlfj 
men, proceeded, according to his instructions, with th 
remainder of his force, to join the army of the centre 
Buffaloe. Shortly before his arrival at this place, an irij,J 

Jilt 

* The British ministers at Ghent, a year afterwards, demandel||] 
as a si7ie qua non, that an article should be inserted in the trear 
in favour of these their quandam allies, but who were at thj 
:i&ve their enemies. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. VJS 

teresting correspondence between hint) and general Vin- 
cent, was brought on by a request from the latter, that 
the British prisoners in his possession miglit be treated 
with humanity. General Harrison, after assuring him 
that such a request was unnecessary, referred him to tlie 
prisoners themselves for information on this score. lie 
then took occasion to go into a minute detail of the enor- 
mities committed by the British and Indians, in the mode 
of warfare which they had practised towards the Ameri- 
cans. He painted the scenes of the River Raisin, and 
the Miami, with others of a similar character, and which 
general Proctor had attempted to cover by an infamous 
slander of the Western people : he at the same time sta- 
ted, that in no single instance had the British complained 
of a deviation from civilized warfare on our part; for the 
truth of these facts, he appealed to tiie personal know- 
ledge of general Vincent. General Harrison distinctly 
stated, that, in his treatment to British prisoners, he 
actly purely from a sense of humanity, and not on the 
score of reciprocity, and as there were still a number of 
t those Indians, who reside beyond the boundaries of the 
United States, in the employment of the British, he now 
>8|\vished to be informed explicitly, whether these allies 
18 would be restrained in future, or whether general Vincent 
16 would permit them to practise their usual cruelties. 
li<*Use then, I pray you," said he, "your authority and 
influence to stop the dreadful effusion of innocent blood, 
which proceeds from the employment of those savage 
monsters, whose aid, as must now be discovered, is so 
ir|little to be depended on when most wanted, and whicli 
can have so trifling an effect on the issue of the war. The 
teffect of their barbarities will not be confined to the pre- 
ilillsent generation. Ages yet to come will feel the deep 
4rooted hatred and enmity, which they must produce be- 
inttween the two nations." He concludetl by declaring, 
that unless a stop should be put to these proceedings, he 
would be under the necessity of retorting the same treat- 
■» ment, which as a soldier he most sincerely deprecated. 
^''This part of his letter cannot be so well approved -, it is a 
threat which the government would not have permitted 

ir 



194 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

to be put in execution; retaliation is only justifiable as 
mode of preventing a violation of the laws of nations, bui 
not as a punishment for it ; this, in fact, places the civi 
lized nations upon a footing with the barbarian, Th( 
wanton practice of military executions, was. properly ar 
rested by general Washington; but had he proceeded a 
once to the slaughter of his prisoners, it would hav« 
caused a war of extermination. There is something ex 
ceedingly repugnant to the feelings, in this substitution 
of the objects of punishment, in thus causing the innocen 
to suffer for the guilty. 

The reply of general Vincent was not unlike that c 
Sir Sidney Beck with, vague and evasive. He expresse( 
himself perfectly satisfied on the score of the treatmen 
of the prisoners, but with respect to the other topicks, h 
declined saying any thing; it was beyond his power t 
give an explicit answer ; but he pledged his honour, tha 
to the utmost of his power, he would join with gener£ 
Harrison in alleviating the calamities of war. Althoug 
general Harrison pledged himself to produce proofs 
every thing which he stated, general Vincent chose t 
be silent upon the subject; neither disavowing that sue 
acts were sanctioned by the British government, nor cal 
ing the truth of them in question; they will, therefon 
remain an indelible stigma on the British name. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Preparations for invading Canada — General Wilkinson takes coi 
mand— Rendezvous of the American forces— General Wilki 
son descends the St. Lawrence— Battle of Chrystler's field 
Hampton's inability to co-operatq — Failure of the expedition- 
Cruize of Commodore Chauncey— The burning of Newark- 
British retaliation. 

The glorious result of the operations of the north-wes 
ern army, and the splendid victory on the lake, opem 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 195 

the way to a more effectual invasion of Canada. We 
wei'e now in the situation that we should have been at 
the commencement of the war, had Hull's expedition 
proved successful. There was, however, tliis difference, 
tliat the British had time to provide for a defence, by col- 
lecting troop^;, disciplining their militia, and fortifying 
the borders of the St. Lawrence. On the other hand, a 
njore formidable force was collected on the frontier, than 
at any time since the war, under officers whose merits 
[had been tried in actual service ; and besides,' the greater 
part of the Indians on our frontiers had declared against 
the British. The publick was now so elated by the se- 
ries of brilliant victories to the westward, that it was 
thought the tide of fortune had at last turned in our fa- 
vour, and it was expected that the administration would 
go about the conquest of Canada in earnest. 

At the head of the war department, there was now a 
man of energy and distinguished talents, wlio had re- 
sided a long time abroad ; and it v;as supposed that, from 
the natural bias of his mind to military affairs, he had 
availed himself of his opportunities to the best advantage. 
Much was expected from him. In a short time it was 
acknowledged, that great improvements were introduced 
into this department, particularly in the selection and 
promotion of the officers of the army. General Ann- 
strong, knowing the sanguine expectations which prevail- 
ed through the United States, proceeded to the northern 
>ontier, witii a plan of operations digested in the calti- 
let; and which he intended to see put in execution un- 
ier his own eye. The plan as afterwards developed was 
n itself judicious, but there was, perhaps, in its execu- 
ion, not a sufficient allowance for a change of circum- 
j^tances. Although the season was far advanced, much 
.night yet be done ; but, to satisfy the piblick expecta- 
;ions, to the extent to which they had been raised by the 
■access of Harrison, was scarcely possible. Little short 
t)f the complete conquest of Canada would suffice, and 
)ut vague ideas of the nature of the enterprise, and the 
lifflculties to be encountered, prevailed throughout the 
^*;reatbody of the nation. The people in this country. 



196 HISTORT OF THE WAR. 

ldi.e other sovereigns, are unfortunately too apt to look 
little further than the success or failure of their agents, 
without much weighing the peculiar circumstances under 
\vhich they may have acted. To the desire of doing too 
much, may perhaps be attributed the misfortunes we ex- 
perienced in a campaign, which resulted so diiferently 
from cur wishes and expectations. 

After the resignation of general Dearborne, general 
"Wilkinson, who then commanded in the southern sec- 
tion of the union, was called to the command of the Ame- 
rican forces. It was generally admitted, that he possess- 
ed a greater share of military science than any one in the 
army. The general, on taking command, issued an ord«r 
which gave universal satisfaction ; and it was expected 
that, for the sake of firmly establishing his reputation be- 
yond the power of his enemies, he would endeavour to 
render some signal service to his country. The force 
under his command, on the Niagara, amounted to eight! 
thousand regulars, besides those under Harrison, who 
M-as expected in the course of the month of October, 
General Hampton, a distinguished revolutionary officer, 
had also been called from the south, and appointed to the 
command of the army of the north, then encamped at 
Plattsburg, and amounting to about four thousand me». 
As the season for military operations was drawing to at 
close, it was determined to lose no time, and measures 
were immediately taken for carrying into effect the pro- 
jected invasion. The outline of the plan which had beea 
adopted, was simply to descend the St. Lawrence, pass- 
ing the British posts above, and after a junction with ge- 
neral Hampton at some designated point on the river, 
proceed to the island of Montreal ; and then, to use the! 
words of general Wilkinson, "their artillery, bayonetsj 
and swords, must secure them a triumph, or provide forj 
them honourable graves." It is said that a difference ol| 
opinion existed between the general, and the Secretarjij 
at War ; the former not considering it prudent to leave;: 
Kingston, and other British garrisons, in the rear ; whih ' 
tlie latter seemed to think, that as there was no doubt oil ' 
taking Montreal, all the posts on the river and lakeJl! ' 



i 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 197 

above that place, must fall of course. The correctness 
of his reasoning cannot be denied ; but as there is a de- 
gree of uncertainty in every human undertaking^, it is un- 
wise to make no allowance for some possible failure, and 
not to calculate the consequences ; excepting indeed, in 
those cases, where the party, like Caesar, resolves to be 
great or dead. 

The army^ which had been distributed in different 
corps, and stationed at various points, v/as now to be 
concentrated at some place most convenient for its em- 
barkation. For this purpose Grenadier's Island, which 
lies between Sackett's Harbour and Kingston, was se- 
lected, on account of its contiguity to the St. Lawrence, 
as the most proper place of rendezvous. On the second 
of October, General Wilkinson left Fort George, with 
tiie principal body of the troops, and soon after reached 
the island, where he occupied himself incessantly in mak- 
ing the necessary preparations for the prosecution of his 
enterprise. He several times visited Sackett's Harbour, 
at which place the troops first arrived, and after receiv- 
ing their necessary supplies, proceeded to the place of 
rendezvous. Colonel Scott, whom he had left in com- 
mand at Fort George, was ordered to embark with his re- 
giment of artiller}^ and colonel Randolph's infantry, on 
board a vessel of the squadron, and proceed to the island. 
Colonel Dennis was left in the command of Sackett's _ 
Harbour; and the general having provided a sufficient 
number of boats to ti-ansport the artillery through the St, 
Lav/rence, proceeded to put the troops in motion. By 
the 23d, the troops thus collected, exceeded seven thou- 
sand men, and were composed of colonel Porter's light 
artillery, a few companies of colonel Scott's and Ma- 
comb's regiments of artillery, twelve regiments of in- 
fantry, and Forsythe's rifle corps. /i 

In consequence of the high winds, which prevailed for 
several days on the Lake, it was not until the 25th that 
the army could get under weigh. The general at this 
time experienced a severe illness, notwithstanding which, 
he still continued to direct the movements of the army. 
A few days before, he received intelligenccj that the ene- 



198 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

my, in consequence of his departure from Fort George, 
had also abandoned that neighbourhood, and was occu- 
pied in concentrating his forces at Kingston, conceiving 
that place to be the object of attack. Greneral "Wilkin- 
son, to favour this idea, after entering the St. Lawrence, 
fixed on French Creek as the place of rendezvous, and 
which, froin the circumstance of being opposite the most 
proper p<|fnt of debarkation on the Canada side, might 
completely deceive the enemy. General Brown, now a 
brigadier in the service of the United States, was order- 
ed to take the command of the advance of the army at 
this place. On the first of November, a British squa- 
dron made its appearance near French Creek, with a 
large body of infantry; a battery of three eighteen 
pounders, skilfully managed by captains MTherson and 
Fanning, soon forced them to retire. The attack was 
renewed the next morning, but with no better success ; 
and as the other corps of the army now daily arrived, 
the enemy thought proper to move off. On the sixth, the 
army was put in motion, and in the evening landed a few 
miles above the British Fort Prescott. After reconnoi- 
tring the passage at this place, and finding that the fort 
commanded the river, general Wilkinson directed the 
fixed ammunition to be transported by land to a safe 
point below, and determined to take advantage of the 
night to pass with the flotilla, while the troops were 
marched to the same point, leaving on board the boats 
merely a sufficient number to navigate them. Availing 
himself of a heavy fog which came on in the evening, the 
commander endeavoured to pass the fort unobserved; 
but the weather clearing up, and the moon shining, he 
was discovered by the enemy, who opened a heavy fire. 
General Brown, who was in the rear with the flotilla, 
thought it prudent to land for the present, until the night 
should grow darker. He then proceeded down the river, 
but not without being discovered, and again exposed to 
a severe cannonade ; notwithstanding which, not one out 
of three hundred boats suff'ered the slightest injury. Be- 
fore ten o'clock the next day, they had all safely arrived 
at the place of destination. A messenger was now des- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 199 

patched to general Hampton, informing him of the raov'e- 
mentof the army, and requiring his co-operation. 

The enemy by this time, having penetrated the design 
of the Americans, immediately occupied themselves witli 
great assiduity, to counteract it. On the seventh, the 
descent was found to be impeded by considerable bodies 
of the British, stationed at the narrow parts of the river, 
where they could annoy our boats within musket shot ; 
and what increased the embarrassment, the illness of 
the commander in chief, had augmented in the most 
alarming degree. The army was also delayed for half 
a day in extricating two schooners loaded with provi- 
sions, which had been driven into a part of the river near 
Ogdensburgh, by the enemy's fire. A corps d'elite of 
twelve hundred men, under colonel M*Comb, being des- 
patched to remove the obstructions to the descent of the 
army, at three o'clock he was followed by the main body. 
On passing the first rapids of the St. Lawrence, the 
barge of th^. commander in chief was assailed by two 
pieces of artillery, but without any other injury than 
cutting the rigging. The attention of tiie enemy was 
soon diverted by lieutenant colonel Eustis, who return- 
ed their fire from some light barges, while major Forsythe 
at the same time, landing some of his riflemen, attacked 
them unexpectedly, and carried off three pieces of their 
artillery. The flotilla came to about six miles below 
Hamilton, and there received intelligence that colonel 
M'Comb had routed the enemy at a block house two 
miles below, and that the dragoons attached to the first 
division of the enemy, had been collected at a place 
called the White House, at a contraction of the river ; to 
which point the flotilla was ordered the next morning to 
proceed. On arriving at this place on the eighth, gene- 
ral Brown was ordered to go forward with his brigade, 
to reinforce colonel ]M<(^nib, and to take command of 
the advance, while the commander in chief directed the 
transportation of the dragoons across the St Lawrence. 
The last was completed during the night. 

The British finding themselves freed from any appre- 
hensions of attack on Kingston, moved, with tlie greater 



200 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

part of their force^ to harass the American army. On 
the ninth, they had so far gained upon its rear, as to 
bring on a skirmish between the American riflemen and 
a party of militia and Indians. To be thus harassed by 
a large body of troops hanging on its rear, is a situation 
which military men have always carefully avoided, and 
this was the necessary consequence of withdrawing the 
troops from above, which might have kept them in check. 
Had two thousand men been stationed in the vicinity of 
Kingston to threaten it, the enemy would ha'^e been 
compelled to concentrate his force at this place, by which! 
means the main body of the army'might have passed in! 
greater safety. In the course of the day, the cavalry and 
four pieces of artillery under captain M'Pherson, were 
ordered to clear the coast as far as the head of the Longue 
Saut ; and in the evening the army arrived at a place 
called the Yellow House, which stands near the Saut. 
As the passage ofthis place was attended with consider- 
able difficulty, on account of the rapidity of the current, 
and of its length, it was deemed prudent to wait until the 
next day, and in the mean while it became necessary to 
use the utmost precaution. 

On the morning of the tenth, general Brown, with 
the troops under his command, excepting two pieces of 
artillery, and the second regiment of dragoens, was or- 
dered to march in advance of the army. A regard for the 
safety of the men, had induced the commander in chief 
to retain as few of the troops in the boats as possible, onl 
account of the exposure to which they would be subject, 
in the long and dangerous passage of these rapids, and! 
where the enem}^ had in all probability established bat-! 
teries for the purpose of impeding their descent. The 
second regiment of dragoons, and a considerable portion 
of the other brigades, wiiich had been v.'ithdrawn from the 
boats, were ordered to follow under general Boyd, the 
steps of general Brown, to prevent the enemy who were! 
still hanging on the rear of the army, from making any! 
advantageous attack. General Brown now commenced! 
his march at the head of his troops, consisting principal- 
ly of colonel M'Comb's artillery, and a part of Scott's, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 201 

part of tiie light artillery, the riflemen, and the sixth, 
fifteenth and twenty-second regiments. It was not long 
before he found himself engaged with a strong party at a 
block-house near the Saut, which after a contest of a few 
minutes, was repulsed by the riflemen under Forsythe, 
who was severely wounded. About the same time some 
of the enemy-s galleys approached the flotilla, which had 
landed, and commenced a fire upon it, by which a number 
of the boats were injured ; two eighteen pounders, how- 
ever, being hastily run on shore, a fire from them soon 
compelled the assailants to retire. The day being now 
too far spent to attempt the Saut, it was resolved to post- 
pone it until the day following. 

At ten o'clock on the eleventh, at the moment that the 
flotilla was^ about to proceed, and when at the same 
time, the division under general Bo3^d, consisting of his 
own and the brioades ofo-enerals Covington and Swart- 
wout, were drawn up in marching order, an alarm was 
given that the enemy was discovered approaching in 
column. The commander in chief and general Lewis, 
being both too much indisposed to take the command, 
general Boyd was ordered to face about and attack the 
approaching army. The enemy's galleys had at the 
same time approached, for the purpose of attacking the 
rear of the American flotilla. General Boyd now ad- 
vanced with his detachment formed in three columns, and 
ordered a part of general Swartwout's brigade to move 
forvvard, and bring the enemy to action. Colonel Ripley, 
accordingly, at the head of the 21st regiment, passed 
the wood which skirts the open ground called Chrystler's 
fiel^ and drove in several of the enemy's parties. On 
entering the field, he met the advance of the British, 
consisting of the forty-ninth and the Glengary fencibles. 
Colonel Ripley immediately ordered a charge, which 
was executed with such surprising firmness, that these 
two regiments, nearly double his numbers, were com- 
pelled to retire ; and on making a stand, were a second 
time driven before the bayonet, and compelled to pass 
over the ravines and fences, by which the field was inter- 
sected, until they fell on their main body. Genera! 



002 HISTORY OF THE WAR* 

Covington had, before this, advanced upon the right of the 
enem}^, where his artillery was posted, and at the mo- 
nient colonel Ripley had assailed the left flank, the right 
was forced by a determined onset, and success appeared 
scarcely doubtful. Unfortunately, however, general Co- 
vington, whose activity had rendered him conspicuous^ 
became a mark for the sharp-shooters of the enemy sta- 
tioned in Chrystler's house, and he was shot from his 
horse. The fall of this gallant officer arrested the pro- 
gress of the brigade, and the artillery of the enemy threw 
st into confusion, and caused it to fall back in disorder. 
The British commander now wheeled part of his line 
into column, with the \iew of capturing some pieces of 
artillery, which were no longer supported. A body of 
dragoons, under the adjutant sreneral Walbach, attempt- 
ed, in a very gallant manner, to charge the British co- 
lumn: but from the nature of the ground was not suc- 
cessful. At this critical moment, colonel Ripley, who 
had been engaged with the enemy's left flank, threw his 
regiment between the artillery and the advancing co- 
lumn, and frustrated their design. The British fell 
back with precipitation. The regiments which had bro- 
ken, had not retired from the field, but still continued to 
keep up an irregular fight with various success; and the 
twenty-first having by this time expended its ammuni- 
tion, and being much exposed, was withdrawn to another 
position, and in the mean while the enemy again at- 
tempted to possess themselves of the artillery. One 
piece was unfortunately captured by them, in conse- 
quence of the death of lieutenant William S. Smith, who 
commanded it; the others were brought off by the If^i- 
ness and bravery of captain Armstrong Irvine. The ac» 
tion soon after ceased, having been kept up for two 
liours, by little better than raw troops against an equal 
number of veterans. The British force consisted of de- 
tachments from the forty-ninth, eighty-fourth, hundred 
and fourth, the Voltigeurs, and the Glengary regiment. 
The enemy soon after retired to their camp, and the 
Americans to their boats. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. £03 

In this battle the loss of the Americans, in killed and 
wounded, amounted to three hundred and thirty-nine, of 
whom one hundred and two were killed : among these 
were lieutenants Smith, Hunter, and Olmstead ; among 
the wounded, were general Covington, who afterwards 
died ; colonel Preston, majors Chambers, Noon, and 
Cumnungs; captains Townsend, Foster, Myers, Camp- 
bell, and Murdock ; and lieutenants Heaton, Williams, 
liynch, Felham, Brown, and Creery. The British loss 
.could not have been less than that of the Americans. 

Both parti-DS claimed the victory on this occasion, but 
it was properly a drawn battle; the British retiring to 
their encampments, and the Americans to their boats. 
Perhaps, from the circumstance of the enemy's never 
again assailing the American armj, it may be taken for 
granted, that they were defeated in their object. Gene- 
ral Brown had, in the meanwhile, reached the foot of the 
Rapids, and awaited the arrival of the army. On the 
eleventh, the army proceeded on its course, and joined 
the advance near Barnhart. At this place, the comman- 
der in chief received a letter from General Hampton, 
which in the most unexpected manner, put an end at 
once to the further prosecution of the design against 
Montreal. 

On the sixth, a few days before the battle of Chrystler's 
field, the commander in chief had given orders to gene- 
ral Hampton, to meet him at St. Regis ; but soon after 
this order, a letter was received from general Hampton, 
in which, after stating that from the disclosure of the state 
of general Wilkinson's supply of provisions, and the 
situation of the roads to St. Regis, which rendered it im- 
possible to ti-ansport a greater quantity than could be 
carried by a man on his back, he had determined to open 
a communication from Plattsburgh to Conewago, or by 
any other point on the St. Lawrence, which the com- 
mander in chief might indicate. General Hampton 
sometime before this, with a view to a further movement 
of his troops, had descended the Chateaugay river; about 
the same time that the army was concentrated on Lake 
Ontario. Sir George Prevost perceiving this movement 



204 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

towards Montreal, had collected all his force at this 
point, to oppose the march of Hampton. On the 2 1st of 
October this officer crossed the line, but soon found his 
road obstructed by fallen timber, and the ambuscade of 
the enemy's militia and Indians. A wood of considera- 
ble extent would have to be passed, before they could 
reach the open country, and while the engineers were 
engaged in cutting a way through, colonel Purdy was de- 
tached with the light troops and one regiment of the line, 
to turn their flank, and then seize on the open country 
below. In this he succeeded, and the army by the next 
day reached the position of the advance. But it was 
discovered that about seven miles further, there was a 
wood which had been felled and formed into an abatis, 
and that a succession of breast-works, some of them well 
supplied with artillery, had been formed by the main 
body of the enemy. Colonel Purdy, on the twenty-fifth, 
was ordered to march down the river oii the opposite 
side, and on passing the enemy, to cross over, and attack 
him in his rear, whilst the brigade under general Izard 
would attack him in front. Colonel Purdy had not' 
marched far, when his orders were countermanded ; but 
on his return, he was attacked by the enemy's infantryi 
and Indians, and at first thrown into some confusion, 
but the assailants were soon after repulsed ; they came 
out at the same moment in front, and attacked general 
Izard, but were soon after compelled to retire behind 
their defences. General Hampton receiving information 
that the enemy were continually reinforced, resolved, on 
the advice of his officers, to retreat to a position whicli 
he had occupied some days before, called the Four Cor- 
ners, where he arrived on the last day of the month. 
The British claimed a victory for this affair, which they 
say was gained with a very inferiour force. But it was 
not the intention of general Hampton to penetrate to 
Montreal, but merely to divert the attention of the Bri-( 
tish from the army of general Wilkinson, with which it 
was his intention to form a junction some days after- 
wards. Having accomplished his object, he fell back toi 
the position whence he could, with greater facility, make 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 205 

his v/ay to som-e point on the St. Lawrence. It was then 
tliat, on the receipt of the order of the commamier in 
chieif, he despatched the letter already mentioned, stat- 
ing the impracticability of a compliance. On the receipt 
of general Hampton's communication, a council of the 
principal officers was called, by which it was determined 
that the objects of the campaign were no lons^er attaina- 
ble ; it was therefore resolved to retire into winter quar- 
ters at French Mills. The troops under general Hamp- 
ton soon after followed his example, and in consequence 
of the illness of that officer, his corps was left under the 
command of general Izard. 

Thus terminated a campaign, which gave rise to dis- 
satisfaction, proportioned to the high expectations which 
had been indulged; this unexpected turn of ailairs ap- 
peared to casta shade upon all the brilliant series of suc- 
cess which had preceded. Opinion was much divided as 
to the causes of the failure, and as to the parties who 
ought to bear the blame. With respect to general Wil- 
kinson, after the disappointment in his reinforcement 
and supplies, it would not perhaps have been prwdent for 
him to have persevered; and besides, from the state of 
his health, he was not qualified to carry into execution 
what would have required the utmost vigour of mind and 
body. With respect to Hampton, military men will 
probably say, that it was his duty to have obeyed ; but if 
we place implicit reliance upon the correctness of the 
facts which he alleged, it will be difficult to condemn his 
conduct. With respect to the whole plan of operations, 
it was certainly judicious ; it ought from the first to have 
been adopted. By seizing a favourable position on the 
St. Lawrence and strongly fortifying it, the communica- 
tion between the upper and lower provinces would have 
been cut off, and the most important results would have 
followed. The season, however, was too tar advanced 
to attempt it with just expectations of success. It is by- 
no means certain, that Montreal could have been taken 
without a siege of some length ; and the strength of the 
British was probably greater than it had been supposed. 
The presence of the secretary at war, for the purpose o|" 
18 i_ 



206 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

superintending the operations of the campaign, was per- 
haps more injurious than serviceable. He was bj no 
means in a situation in which he could be considered re- 
sponsible, altbough in case of success, the merit of it 
would be assigned to him. This is an unfair and impro- 
per interference which ought to be condemned. 

While these things were taking place on the land, the 
commander of our squadron on the lake was not idle. 
Commodore Chauncey, it has been seen, after his first 
attempt to bring the enemy to action, returned to Sack- 
ett's Harbour, for the purpose of obtaining a fresh supply 
of provisions. After being reinforced by a new schooner, 
he aj^ain sailed on a cruise; and on the seventh of Sep- 
tember, discovered the British squadron near the Nia- 
gara, and immediately stood for it: Sir James,* on per- 
ceiving; the Americans, made sail to the northward, and 
was pursued during four days and nights; but owing to 
the dull sailing of a greater part of the pursuers, he was 
enabled to keep out of their reach. On the fourth day, 
oft' Genesee river, commodore Chauncey having a breeze, 
while Sir James lay becalmed, endeavoured to close with 
him ; this he was not able to accomplish, the enemy tak- 
ino- the breeze also, when the American squadron had 
ched within half a mile. Alter a running fipcht of 



oa 



r« "Jn' 



appr 

more than three hours, the British escaped; but the next 
morning ran into Amherst bay, whither the American 
commodore, for the want of a pilot, did not think it pru- 
dent to follow, but contented himself with forming a 
blockade. In the running fight, the British sustained 
considerable injury; that of the Americans was very tri- 
fling. The blockade was continued until the seventeenth 
of September, when in consequence of a heavy gale which 
blew from the westward, the commodore was compelled 
to leave his station, and the British escaped into Kings- 
ton. 

After remaining but a short time in Sackett's Harbour, 
commodore Chauncey again sailed towards Niagara, 
where he arrived on the twenty-fourth, having passed 
Sir James at the False Ducks, without noticing him, in- 
tending to draw him into the lake. A few days after. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 207 - 

the American commodore received information, that the 
enemy was in the harbour of York; he therefore made 
sail to that place, as fast as his dull sailing schooners 
would permit; and on the twenty-seventh, early in the 
morning, discovered the enemy in motion in the bay, 
and immediately stood for him. This being perceived 
by Sir James, he stood out and endeavoured to escape to 
the southward ; but finding that the American was clos- 
ing upon him, tacked his squadron in succession; and 
commenced a well directed fire at the Pike, in order to 
cover his rear ; and attacking the rear of his opponent as 
he passed to leeward ; this was prevented by the skilful 
manoeuvring of Chauncey, by bearing down in line on 
the centre of tlie enemy's squadron, which was thrown 
into confusion, and Yeo immediately bore away, but not 
before his ship had been roughly handled by that of the 
commodore. In twenty minutes, the main and mizen- 
top-mast and main yard of the Wolf, were shot away ; 
the British commander set sail upon his foremast, and 
keeping dead before the wind, was enabled to outsail the 
greater part of Chauncey's squadron. The chase was 
continued until three o'clock, the Pike having the Asp in 
tow, and during the greater part of this tinie, within 
reach of the enemy's shot. Captain ('rane, in the Madi- 
son, and lieutenant Brown, of the Oneida, used every 
exertion to close with the enemy, but without success. 
The chase was at length reluctantly given up, as it came 
on to blow almost a gale, and there was no hope of clos- 
ing with the enemy before he could reach the British bat- 
teries, and without great risk of running ashore. The 
commodore was justly entitled to claim a victory in tMjj^ 
affair; although the enemy were not captured, they were 
certainly beaten ; two of his vessels were at one mome* t 
completely in the commodore's power ; but from his ea- 
gerness to close with the whole fleet, they effected their 
escape. In addition to the general policy of Sir James 
Yeo, the late affair on Lake Erie had rendered him par- 
ticularly careful to avoid an engagement. The loss on 
board the Pike was considerable, owing to her having 
been so long exposed to the fire of the enemy's fleet; the 



208 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

most serious, however, was occasioned by the bursting 
of one of her guns, by which twenty -two men were killed 
and wounded; the total amounted to twenty-seven. 
The vessel was a good deal cut up in her hull and rigging. 

Shortly after this affair, the commodore having com- 
municated with general Wilkinson on the subject of the 
expedition then on foot, was advised to continue to watch 
the enemy's squadron; and, if possible, to prevent its re- 
turn to Kingston. About the beginning of October, the 
commodore again chased the enemy's fleet for several 
days, and forced it to take refuge in Burlington Bay ; 
the next morning, on sending the Lady of the Lake to 
reconnoitre, it was discovered that Sir James had taken 
advantage of the darkness of the night, and escaped to 
Kingston. Much pleasantry was indulged at this time, 
at the shyness of the British Knight, and his ungallant 
escape from the Lady of the Lake. The chase was now 
renewed, and, favoured by the wind, the commodore 
came in sight of seven schooners, and captured five of 
them, in spite of their efforts to escape by separating. 
Before sun-down, three of them struck to the Pikej and 
another to the Sylph and the Lady of the Lake, and a 
fifth was afterwards captured by the Sylph. They turned 
out to be gun vessels, bound to the head of the lake as 
transports. Two of them were the Julia and Growler, 
which had been lost by the Americans. On board were 
three hundred soldiers, belonging to the De Wattevilie 
regiment It was ascertained that the ship of sir James 
Yeo, and the Ro}al George, had suffered very considera- 
ble injury, as well as loss in killed and wounded. Com- 
i^dore Chauncey remained master of the lake during 
t^ remainder of the season. 

It was not long before the consequences of leaving a 
large force in the rear, and withdrawing the troops from 
the Niagara, were felt. General Harrison reached Buf- 
faloe some days after the departure of the commander in 
chief; and was to follow immediately, but was compelled 
to wait until some time in November, in consequence of 
the deficiency of transports, it was not until general 
Wilkinson had gone into winter-quarters, that Harrison 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 209 

embarked ; orders had been previously sent for htm to 
remain, but unfortunately these did not reach Fort 
George until after his departure. The fort was left un- 
der the command of general M'Clure, his force consisting 
entirely of militia, whose term of service had nearly ex- 
pired. By the tenth of December, the force under gene- 
ral iM'Clure was reduced to a handful of men, and on a 
consultation of officers, it was unanimously agreed, that 
this place was no longer tenable. It was moreover as- 
certained, that the enemy was on his march with a con- 
siderable force. The general had scarcely time to pass 
the river after having blown up the fort, before the Bri- 
tish appeared. The retreat of general M'Clure was also 
preceded by an act which every American must sincere- 
ly regret, and whicli excited universal dissatisfaction 
tliroughout the United States. There is a handsome vil- 
lage, situated immediately below the fort, called New^ark; 
as this place, from its situation, would greatly favour the 
besiegers, an authority had therefore been given by the 
Secretary at War, in case it became necessary for the 
defence of the fort, to destroy the village, and by that 
means pi^vent the enemy from taking shelter. The ge- 
neral, Hiisconceiving these orders, after giving notice to 
the inhabitants to retire witli their eftects, fired the build- 
ings, and left the village in flames. aIhs act was no 
sooner known to the government, than it was promptly 
disavowe'd. On the sixth of January following, the order 
under which general M'Clure conceived himself to have 
acted, was enclosed to Sir George Prevost, with a formal 
declaration, that the act was unauthorised. To this, an 
answer dated the tenth of February, was given by the 
governour of Canada, expressing "great satisfaction, 
that he had received assurance that the perpetration of 
the burning of the town of Newark, was both unautho- 
rised by the American government, and abhorrent to 
every American feeling; that if any outrages had en- 
sued the wanton and unjustifiable destruction of Newark, 
passing the bounds ofjiiat r-etaiiation, i\\cy were to be at- 
tributed to the influence of irritated passions, on the part 
of the unfortunate sufferers by that event.'* 
18* 



210 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

The difference of the principles, on which the war was 
carried on by the Americans and by the British, is very 
striking : the first, uniformly disavowed the system of re- 
taliation for the outrages committed by the British offi- 
cers, considering them unauthorised until expressly ac- 
knowledged by the British government : on the con- 
trary, the British proceeded at once to retaliate, without 
waiting to inquire whether the violation of the laws of 
war was disapproved or sanctioned. Had the Americans 
proceeded upon the same principles as their enemies, the 
burning of Newark would have been amply justified, by 
the outrages wantonly committed on Lake Champlain 
and on the sea-board, without any pretext. So strictly 
did our government adhere to this principle, that shortly 
after the massacre and confiagration of the village of 
Hampton, when the captain of an American privateer 
destroyed some private property in the West Indies, on 
the score of retaliation, his commission was instantly ta- 
ken from him, and the act publicklj disapproved. Our 
government on all occasions discovered the highest sense 
of honourable warfare- Our humane treatment to British 
prisoners, was acknowledged by Lord Castlereagh in the 
house of commons, but meanly attributed by him to fear ! 
We have certainly not shown ourselves afraid to fight, 
eiti.er on the ocetm or on the land, our fear then has been 
that of doing injustice. ♦ 

Sir George Prevost, however, did not wait for the dis- 
avowal of the American government; he had already in- 
flicted a retaliation sufficient to satisfy the vengeance of 
the fiercest enemy. At day-light on the nineteenth of i 
December, Fort Niagara was surprised by colonel Mur- 
ray, with about four hundred men, and the garrison, 
nearly three hundred in number, and principally inva- 
lids, was put to the sword ; not more tiian twenty being 
able to escape. The commanding officer, captain Leon- 
ard, appears to have been shamefully negligent, or per- 
haps bought by tlm enemy ; he was ^absent at the time, 
and hud used no precautious against an assault. Having 
possessed themselves of this place, they soon after in- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 211 

creased their force, and immediately proceeded to lay- 
waste the Niagara frontier with fire and sword. The 
militia, hastily collected, could oppose no resistance to a 
large body of British regulars and seven hundred Indians. 
A spirited, but unavailing attempt was made by major 
Bennett to defend Lewistown; this village, together 
with that of Manchester, Young's-town, and the Indian 
village of the Tuscarroras, were speedily reduced to 
ashes, and many of the inhabitants butchered. Major 
Mellory advanced from Shlosser, to oppose the invaders, 
but was cojnpelled by superiour numbers to retreat. On 
the thirtieth, a detachment landed at Black Rock, and 
proceeded to Buffaloe ; general Hall had organised a 
body of militia, but on tlie approach of the enemy, they 
could not be induced to hold their ground. Great exer- 
tions were made by majors Staunton and Norton, and 
lieutenant Kiddle, but to no purpose. The village was 
soon after reduced to ashes, and the whole frontier, for 
many miles, exhibited a scene of ruin and devastation. 
Here was indeed ample vengeance for the burning of 
Newark. Even the British general was satisfied, as ap- 
pears by his proclamation of the twelfth of January : 
" the opportunity of punishment has occurred, and a fiill 
measure of retribution has taken place ;" and he declared 
his intention of ^' pursuing no further a system of war- 
fare so revolting to his own feelings, and so little conge- 
nial to the British character.*' It may be well to ask, 
wlicther the conflagrations and pillaging antecedently 
committed on Lake Champlain, and t!ie horrid outrages 
in the Chesapeake, in the course of the summer, were 
also in retaliation for the burning of Newark ? Certain it 
is that this aft'air not only produced anticipated retalia- 
tion, bit was followed up by subsequent retaliatory 
nieasures with insatiate vengeance, i he devastating 
decree of admiral Cochrane was founded in part on the 
aftiiir of Newark, and the groundless charge of burning a 
brick house in Upper Canada, in which the Americans 
found a human scalp. It was not enough that the burn- 
ing of this uiifortunate village should have been rep.xioat- 
ed'and disavowed by our government j it was not enough 



212 HISTORY OP THE WAR. 

that it should be expiated by an extensive scene of mur- 
der and conflagration, which accordin^i; to the admission 
of sir George Prevost, amply glutted the vengeance of 
Britain; but our extensive sea-coast of fifteen hundred 
miles, and our populous and flourishing cities, must be 
given to destruction and pillage, to fill up the measure of 
British retaliation. These things will, however, be de- 
tailed in the proper place ; but it is difficult to avoid an- 
ticipating events so closely connected with the present. 



CHAPTER Xn. 

Meeting of Congress, and violence >f party spirit — Measures 
for carrying on the war — Unfriendly deportment of the New 
England states — The subject of retaliation — A committee of 
congress inquires into the manner in which the war has been j 
carried on by the enemy — The war gaining ground in the 
United States. 

0>J the sixth of December, the congress of the United 

States again assembled. The fever of party spirit !iad 
almost reached its crisis, and the debates which took 
place were more distinguished for virulent animosity, 
than had been witnessed since the foundation of our go- 
vernment. It would be improper to enter minutely into 
a subject, which had better be forgotton, at any rate : but 
in this simple narrative of the events of the war, there is 
scarcely room for such a discussion. On the one side, 
we find the opposition accused of manifesting a spirit of 
hostility to their country, and a determined opposition 
to every measure for carrying on the war, although at 
this time, from the peremptory rejection of the Kussian 
mediation, there existed no hopes of peace. On the oth- 
er hand, the party in power was accused of having ruin- 
ed the country, destio\ed its commerce, involved it in 
debts which it could never pay^ and of being engaged in 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 215 

a guiltj project of conquest, under the pretext of vindi- 
cating national rights. Every measure with respect to 
the war, was sure to involve in it a consideration of its 
causes, and the same discussions were renevved until 
they grew stale by repetition. The opposition to every 
measure proposed for the prosecution of hostilities, turned 
upon the injustice and wickedness of the war, topicks 
which ought to have been at an end when once declared. 
By some it was denied that any cause of war existed, and 
by others, that although we had cause, the time chosen 
for declaring it was improper. Notwithstanding the 
warm and often intemperate debates, to which these 
subjects gave rise, the diflerent measures in support of 
the war continued to be carried by large majorities. In 
some of the New England states, the opposition was 
carried on in a spirit of animosity, which occasioned a 
serious regret in the breasts of the more considerate, it 
was there not confined to the administration, but was 
directed against the Federal Constitution itself. They 
now discovered that this instrument was not calculated 
to insure their happiness, and their conduct was such as 
to lead Great Britain to believe, that they were ripe 
for a separation. These sentiments did not, by any 
means, meet the concurrence of the opposition party in 
other parts of the United States, and certainly not of the 
great mass of the population of the states where they 
were expressed. The pressure of the embargo, which 
was about this time adopted, and the non-intercourse, it 
was said, was infinitely mOre severe on the people of New 
England, than on the southern districts; and tlie ad- 
ministration was accused of partiality. It was alleged 
in reply, that the smuggling on the Canada lines, and the 
trade from the northern ports, by the connivance of the 
British, was carried on to such an extent as almost to 
put the government at defiance ; that the British squa- 
dron, which had so much harassed the southern coasts, 
had lieen in a great measure supplied to the northward, 
and that without such assistaoce it would be difficult for 
them to remain on our coast. 
The war had hitherto been supported by means of 



£14 HISTORY OF THE WAR. , 

loans ; as the only resources of the government, from the 
sale of publick lands and imposts, were altogether inade- 
quate ; and it was now beginning to be seen, that even as 
the security upon which to support a credit, these were 
insufficient It was therefore propQsed to create an in- 
ternal revenue. This, it may be said, ought to have been 
coeval with the war ; but the unwillingness of the people 
to submit to taxation, had already been seen ; it was 
therefore the wish of the administration to avoid this as 
long as possible. At the declaration of war, it was be- 
lieved that England would be satisfied with our having the 
ability to declare it, without waiting to ascertain whether 
we could carry it on. The proposals for a cessation of 
hostilities, and the Russian mediation, kept up the hopesi 
of peace for a considerable time ; measures disagreeable 
to the people were therefore delayed until unavoidable, 
or rather until called for by themselves. The expenses 
of the war had also unexpectedly increased, from the 
unlooked for reverses of our arms to the westward, which 
rendered it necessary to create fleets on the lakes ; and in 
consequence of tlie unwillingness of the New England 
people to join heartily in its prosecution. Had we pos- 
sessed ourselves of Upper Canada, there is very little 
doubt but that we should have had peace the first year of 
the war; and it was not until she discovered our weak- 
ness in that quarter, that England rejected the mediation, 
in hopes of being able to inflict upon us some serious in-^ 
jury. Not that the loss of Canada would have been a| 
matter of so much consequence to Great Britain, but itj 
would have furnished her with a conclusive proof, that' 
she could have no hope of severing the union by sowingj 
dissensions between the dift'erent states. The vast ex i 
pense which we had to incur on the lakes, and on th< 
Canadian frontier, could not have been easily foreseen. 
The next thing with which she national legislature oc 
cupied itself, was the providing some means of filling th( 
ranks of the army. The difliculty of enlisting men ha(! 
been found to increase, and was even an argument in use] 
to prove that the war was not po;;u';ir. ijut this could b' 
easily accounted for, from the unwillingness of mcx 



I 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 215 

without being urged by tbeir necessities, to enter into a 
positive engagement to serve as common soldiers for a 
number of years. The station of an enlisted soldier, 
from our long state of peace^ had beside grown into dis- 
repute ; hardly any but the most worthless could be pre- 
vailed upon to enlist. The farmer's sons, and the young 
mechanicks, were willing enough to engage as volunteers, 
or to turn out on a tour of militia duty, but it was a very 
difficult matter to induce them to enter into engage- 
ments which they regar-led as disreputable- It would 
naturally require a considerable length of time, before 
this opinion could be subdued. The profession of the 
common soldier during our long peace, and on account of 
the inconsiderable force kept on foot, had sunk very low 
in the <'&timation of the people : an enlisted soldier, was 
almost proverbial of a lazy worthless fellow. The only 
mode of cornbating this aversion, -.vas the otferino; of extra- 
vaj;ant bounties, not so much with a view to hold out a 
bait to the cupidity of individuals, as to furnisli them with 
an excuse, and to overcome the popular prejudice ajjainst 
this mode of serving the country. An idea was also pre- 
valent, that the obligations of the enlisted soldier created 
a species of slavery: at least, were incompatible with re- 
publican freedom ; this was sufficient to prevent a great 
,nu nher of spirited and enterprising voung men from en- 
iltering the army. A law was passed during the sessio!), 
■ increasing the pay of privates, and giving them bounties 
' in money and lands, to a considerable amount. This, it 
'^ was coiifidently hoped, would produce the desired effect. 
'^ About this time a very interesting subject was submit- 
9 ted to the consideration of congress. Twenty-three 
'•American soldiers, taken at the battle of Queenstown, 
^Hn the autumn of 1812, were detained in close confine- 
' ment as British subjects j and sent to England to undergo 
•^'a trial for treason. On this being made known to our 
hf government, orders were given to general Dearborne to 
^^iconfine a like number of British prisoners taken at Fort 
sf George, and to keep them as hostages for the safety of the 
1" Americans ; which v^as carried into effect, and soon after 
made known to the governour of Canada. The British 



216 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

government was no sooner informed of this, than ga- 
ve rnour Prevost was ordered to place forty-six Ameri- 
can officers and non-commissioned officers in confine- 
ment, to insure the safety of the British sodiers. Go- 
vernour Prevost, in his letter to general Wilkinson upon 
this subject, stated, that he had been directed to apprise 
him, that if any of the British prisoners should suffer 
death, in consequence of any of the American soldiers 
being found guilty, and the known law of Great Britain 
and of every other country in similar circumstances 
executed, double the number of American officers and 
non-commissioned officers, should suffer instant death : 
he further notified the general, for the information of the 
American government, that orders liad been given to 
the British commanders to prosecute the war with unmi- 
tigated severity, if, after this notice, the American go 
vernment should unhappily not be deterred from putting 
to death any of the British soldiers now in confinement 
General Wilkinson, in his reply, forbore to animadvert 
on the nature of the procedure, but could not help ex 
pressing his surprise at the threat by which the British 
ivovernment supposed the United States could be awec 
into submission. '• The government of the United States,' 
said he, " cannot be deterred- by any consideration o 
life or death, of depredation or conflagration, from th< 
faithful disciiarge oi its duty towards the American peo 
pie.*' The arrogance and haughtiness of Britain, in holdlfr 
ing this language, justly excited the indignation of everJaD 
American; this language might be addressed to the mijiln 
serable nations of Asia, upon whom she has been in th 
habit of practising every species of lawless violence ; bu 
when addressed to a people who are proud of their inde 
pendence, and jealous of their national honour, whic 
ever , individual feels as his own, so far from intimtda 
ting, it was only calculated to awaken resistance. Gene 
ral vVilkinson soon after informed governour Prevosi 
that, in consequence of orders he had received from hi 



tinement, to be detained until it should be known i 
the American officers were released. On the receipt ( 



mi 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 217 

this information, the governour ordered all the American 
prisoners into close confinement, and a similar step was 
soon after taken by our government. 

Tliis interesting subject gave rise to warm debates in 
congress. One party insisting that Great Britain had a 
right to her subjects, in all situations and under all cir- 
cumstances ; that they were in fact her property, and 
without her consent they never could free themselves 
from her authority ; they contended further, that man 
cannot divest himself of allegiance to the government 
or prince, of the country in which he happens to be born : 
that although he may leave the country of his birth for a 
time, he never can expatriate bimself. The procedure 
of tlie government was condemned in attempting to op- 
pose the British, in punishing the natives of Great Bri- 
tain, who have been naturalized in this country, and 
have taken up arms in its cause ; their having resided 
amongst us ten years, or twenty years before the war, 
being immaterial, they must be regarded in the sauie light 
as deserters from her armies. It was answered on the 
other side, that it ill became Americans to deny the right 
of expatriation on principle, however we mi^ht from ne- 
cessity yield to the unjust laws of other nations, where 
the individual is regarded as a slave ; for he that has an 
owner whom he cannot change, is indeed a slave. Can it 
be possible, it was asked, for an American to contend on 
principle, that a free man cannot change his allegiance, 
and attach himself to the country of his choice, but must 
drag a chain after him at every remove ? This doctrine 
could only originate in that species of slavery, called the 
feudal system, or under an absolute despot, who consi- 
ders his subjects as without any rights. The doctrine 
indeed is closely allied tothatof the divine right ofkings, 
or rather of legitimate sovereigns; for, according to some 
individuals, even in this country, no government is law- 
ful unless it exists in the hands of some one who claims 
it by birth-right ; at least, that this is the only just foun- 
dation of European governments. Whatever may exist 
in other nations, and beyond our control, we ought 
never to forget, that such a state arises from their cor- 
19 



SI 8 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ruption or weakness, and that we ought sincerely to wish 
with the great Washington, in his farewell address, that 
they could be altogether as we are. If we ought not to 
reprobate their systems, let us view them with compas- 
sion ; but how can we admire them, without at the same 
time despising our own noble institutions ! The principle 
of American liberty is, that no man is born a slave, and 
that allegiance is a matter ef choice, not force ; aiid 
however we might unavoidably give way, where we in- 
terfered with the slavish practices of other nations, we 
ought never to approve the principle. But, it was con- 
tended, that according to the law of nations and their 
uniform practice, the right of expatriation was acknow- 
ledged. Numerous instances were cited, where the sub- 
jects of a nation were taken in arms against her, and 
regularly exchanged ; the practice of Great Britain, in 
naturalizing foreigners was cited, by which they were 
placed on the same footing with her native citizens, and 
equally entitled to protection. She could not object to 
our practice of naturalizing her subjects, for she practis- 
ed the same thing with respect to our citizens, unless 
indeed it be contended, that every thing she does is law- 
ful, while the same thing in another would be unlawful ? 
Would she not think herself bound to protect her adopt- 
ed subjects, whom she solemnly undertakes to protect 
against all the world, without exception ? If the United 
estates alone naturalized foreigners, the case might then 
rest on its principles ; but when the same thing is prac- 
tised every where, who has a right to complain .^ A case 
in point was adduced, to skew the practice of the Britisli 
government, were she was diftlrently situated ; having 
engaged in her service a regiment of French emigrants, 
to serve against France, the question was agitated in the 
house of commons, whether they should proceed to re- 
taliate, in case the French should put any of them to 
death, and it was agreed that such would have been 
their duty. They went much further than the American 
government : Lord Mulgrave declared in debate, that, 
" while he had the command of the British troops at 
Toulon, and the French, who voluntarily flocked to their 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ^.19 

standard, under the authority and invitation of his ma- 
jesty's proclamation, he had always considered the lat- 
ter as entitled to the same protection in es^ery respect, 
as the British troops. Thus it appears, tliat hoth in 
principle and practice, the conduct of Great Britain has 
been similar to that of the United States. 

The result of this debate was, a determination to 
maintain with firmness the position which the adminis- 
tration had taken ; and if Great Britain persisted in the 
fell resolution of rendering the war bloody beyond liie 
example of modern times, as they had already rendered 
it most barbarous and ferocious, the United States must 
reluctantly pursue a course to be lamented by every man 
of common humanity. 

Somewhat connected with this, an investigation was 
set on foot, as to the spirit and manner in which the war 
had been carried on by the enemy. The report of the 
committee enumerated t'le various instances, in which 
the British military and navai officers liad violated t!ie 
known usages of civilized natio;is, in the mode of prosecut- 
ing this war against the United States. The missaires 
on the River Raisin, the depredations and confla^^iations 
on the lakes, before there existed any pretext for retalia- 
tion, .and the barbarous warfare of the sea coast, were 
spoken of in the strongest terms of indignation. The war 
had been conducted, on the part of Great Britain, nearly 
in the same spirit, as at the commencement of our strug- 
gle for independence ; she appeared to he actuated by a 
belief that she was chastising rebellious subjects, and not 
contending with an independent nation. 'Vhe treatment 
of American prisoners was the most cruel that cm be 
imagined ; the horrours of the prison ships were renewed ; 
several hundred unhappy wretches were shut up, without 
light or air, in the ;olds of the ships, and thus transport- 
ed across the Atlantic, stowed together like miserable 
Africans, in the slave trade. In this cruel and unneces- 
sary transportation across the Atlantic, many of our 
countrymen perished for want of air and nourishment, 
and all experienced sufferings almost incredible. This 
treatment was contrasted with that received by the Bri- 



220 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

tish prisoners in this country ; in fact they were treated 
more like guests than prisoners. The committee de- 
clared itself satisfied, from the evidence submitted to it, 
that Great Britain had violated the laws of war, in the 
most flagrant manner ; and submitted to congress the 
propriety of devising some mode of putting a stop to such 
disgraceful conduct. Amongst the most extraordinary 
of the enemy's acts, was the putting in close confinement 
the unfortunate Americans, who had been kidnapped by 
her before the war, and compelled to fight her battles. 
Mont two thousand were acknowledged to be Americans, 
and, on refusing to fight against their country, were com- 
pelled to undergo the same treatment as if they had been 
prisoners of v/ar. This was, indeed, accumulating out- 
rage upon outrage. 

It were well if this had been the whole number in her 
service ; on the contrary, there was ever reason to be- 
lieve, timt by far the greater part were still compelled 
to obey the officers who had enslaved them, under the! 
prcteriCG ihtit thzj "era not Amerieans. Had we tame- 
ly submitted under such a grievance, we indeed deserv- 
ed to be the slaves of George the third, of Napoleon, or 
any other monarch, and our posterity would have blush- 
ed to be called Americans. 

It has been mentioned, that Great Britain had declin 
ed the Russian mediation, under the flimsy pretext of 
being unwilling to submit her rights to the decision of ani 
umpire, although nothing of the kind was proposed, the 
interference of the Emperour of Russia extending no 
further than bringing the parties together. The Prince 
Keg;ent, however, offered a direct negociation at London 
or Gottenburg ; this was no sooner made known to our 
government, than accepted ; and in addition to the com- 
missioners who were already in Europe, under the Rus- 
sian mediation, the president nominated Henry Clay? 
Jonathan Russel, and Albert Gallatin, as commissioners 
of peace, and who soon after left this country for Gotten-^ 
burg. Little more was expected, however, from this, 
than to shew the sincerity of the United States, in de- 
siring peace ; but the conduct of Great Britain already 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 221 

proved, that her only wish was to keep open a door for a 
treaty when necessity should compel her to assent to it. 
Subsequent transactions sufficiently prove, that her re- 
jection of the Russian mediation was a pitiful excuse for 
delay. 

Notwithstandin;^ the intemperate opposition on the 
floor of congress, the war was evidently gaining ground ; 
the conduct of the enemy, in the prosecution of hostili- 
ties, was such as to awaken the feelings of every Ameri- 
can ; and the rejection of the Russian mediation stagger- 
ed many, who confidently predicted its prompt accept- 
ance. The victories, which we had obtained at sea, 
came home to the feelings of the whole nation, and were 
claimed exclusively by the opposition, as having always 
been the best friends of the navy. The British actually 
complained, that those whom she considered her friends 
in America, should rejoice in her misfortunes ; and ac- 
cused them of faithlessness and inconstancy, because 
they permitted their love of country to overcome their 
hatred for the men in power. But this was a delightful 
proof of nationality, such as might have been expected 
from Britain herself, or from France, though not from a 
nation so recently composed of independent jarring 
states, not yet perfectly cemented. It becomes every 
virtuous man to rejoice in the good fortune of his country, 
however he may dislike the present rulers. This senti- 
ment was gradually gaining ground ; the warlike appiiar- 
ances every where displayed, interested the ardent 
minds of the young and enterprising, and the feats of 
arms daily recounted, awakened the desire of being dis- 
tinguished. The contagion of military pursuits was 
rapidly spreading. The habits of a people, wlio had been 
thirty years at peace, and constantly occupied in their 
industrious avocations, could not be changed suddenly. 
But man is every where by nature warlike, and cannot 
exist long in the midst of martial scenes and prepara- 
tions, without catching their spirit. It would not have 
been difficult to predict, that the foreign enemy, which 
was at first regarded only as the enemy of a party, would 
soon become the enemy of the country, 
19* 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XIII.. 

¥he South ren war— Massacre of fort Mims— Expedition of 
general Jackson, and general Cocke— Battle of Talledega — 
Indians surprised by general Cocke— Expedition of general 
Floyd— Critical situation of general Jackson — Defeat of the 
Indians— The Creeks totally defeated at the Horse-shoe-bend 
—General Jackson terminates the Creek war, and dictates a 
peace. 

Our affairs to the southward, the reader will recollect, 
had assumed a serious aspect, and no sooner had the 
Northern armies retired into winter quarters, than the 
publick attention was kept alive, by the interesting events 
which transpired in the country of the Creeks, during 
the winter. That ill fated people had at length declared 
open war. 

In consequence of the threatening appearances to the 
South, and the hostilities which already prevailed with 
the Indians inliabiting the Spanish territory, governour 
Mitchell, of Georgia, was required by the secretary at 
vt^ar, to detach a brigade to the Oakmulgee river, for the 
purpose of covering the frontier settlements of the state. 
Governour Holmes, of the Mississippi territory, was at 
the same time ordered to join a body of militia to the vol- 
unteers under general Claiborne, then stationed on the 
Mobile. In the course of the sutnmer, the settlers in the 
vicinity of that river, became so much alarmed fvmn the 
hostile deportment of the Creeks, that the greater part 
abandoned their plantations, and sought refuge in the 
ditlerent forts ; while the peace party amongst the ('reeks, 
'r<ad, in some places, shut themselves up in forts, and 
were besieged by their countrymen. 

The commencement of hostilities M'as witnessed by, 
one of the most shocking massacres, that can be found in 
the liistory of our Indian wars. The settlers, from an 
imperfect idea of their danger, had adopted an erroneous 
mode of defence, by throwing themselves into small forts 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 223*' 

or stations, at great distances from each other, on the va- 
rious branches of the Mobile. Early in August it was 
ascertained, that the Indians intended to make an attack 
upon all these stations, and destroy them in detail. The 
first place which they would attempt, would probably be 
fort Mims, in which the greatest number of families had 
been collected. Towards the latter part of August, infor- 
mation was brought that the Indians were about to make 
an attack on this post, but unfortunately too little attention 
was paid to the warning. During the momentary continu- 
ance of the alarm, some preparations were made for de- 
fence, but it seems that it was almost impossible to rouse 
them from their unfortunate disbelief of the proximity of 
their danger. The fort was commanded by major Beasly, 
of the Mississippi territory, (a brave officer, and as a pri- 
vate citizen highly respected.) with about a hundred vo- 
lunteers under his command. By some fatality, notwith- 
standing the warnings he had received, he was not suffi- 
ciently on his guard, and suffered himself to be surprised 
on the thirtieth, at noon-day. The centinel had scarcely 
time to notify the approach of the Indians, when they 
rushed, with a dreadful yell, towards the gate, which was 
wide open; the garris«m was instantly under arms, and 
the major flew towards the gate, with some of his men, in 
order to close it, and if possible expel the enemy; but 
he soon after fell moilally wounded. The gate was at 
length closed, after great slaughter on both sides; but a 
number of the Indians had taken possession of a block- 
house, from which they were expelled, after a bloody con- 
test, by captain Jack. The assault was still continued 
for an hour, on the outside of the pickets ; the port holes 
were several times carried by the assailants, and retaken 
by those within the fort. 

The Indians now for a moment withdrew, apparently 
disheartened by their loss, but on being harangued by 
their chief Weatherford, they returned with augmented 
fury to the assault ; having procured axes, they proceed- 
ed to cut down the gate, and at the same time made a 
breach in the pickets, and possessing themselves of the 
area of the fort, compelled the besieged to take refuge in 



^224 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the houses. Here they made a gallant resistance, but ' 
the Indians at length setting fire to the roofs, the situa- 
tien of these unfortunate people became altogether hope- 
less. The agonizing shrieks of the unfortunate women 
and children at their unhappy fate, would have awakened 
pity in the breasts of tygers ; it is only by those who have 
some faint idea of the nature of Indian warfare, that 
the horrour of their situation can be conceived. The 
terrour of the scene had already been sufficient to have 
bereft them of their senses ; but what heart does not bleed 
at the recital of its realities. Not a soul was spared by 
these monsters ; from the most aged person to the young- 
est infant, they became the victims of indiscriminate 
butchery ; and some, to avoid a worse fate, even rushed 
into the flames. A few only escaped by leaping over the 
pickets, while the Indians were engaged in the work of 
massacre. About two hundred and sixty peisons of all 
a^es, and sexes, thus perished, including some friendly In- 
dians, and about one hundred negroes The panick caused 
at the otiier posts, or stations, by this dreadful catastro- 
phe, can scarcely be described ; the wretched inhabitants, 
fearing a similar fate, abandoned their retreats of fancied 
security in the middle of the night, and in their endea- 
vours to escape to Mobile, encountered every species of I 
suffering. The dwellings of these settlers, (who were 
probably as numeroufias the who^'e tribe of Creeks.) were 
burnt, and their cattle destroyed. Savage man is little 
better than a wild beast; it is unaccountable how some 
feel a compassion for such men, and can regard unmoved 
the horrours which they haliitualiy perpetrate against 
foes of every kind. Could these people complain of our 
having injured them ? Never was there a foot of ground 
taken from them ; and besides, according to their own 
tradition, it is not a century since they possessed them- 
selves of the country, by extirpating the right owners : 
nothing but the basest ingratitude could have actuated 
thein, under the instigations of our no less cruel enemy. 
(*n the receipt of this disastrous intelligence, the Ten- 
nesse militia, under the orders of general Jackson and 
general Cocke, immediately marched to the country of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 225 

the Creeks. On the second of November general Coffee 
was detached, uith nine hundred men, against the Tal- 
lushatches towns, and reached the place about day-light 
the next morning. The Indians, apprised of his ap- 
proach, were prepared to receive him. Within a short 
distance of the villaj^ethe enemy charged upon him, with 
a boldness seldom displayed by Indians. They were re- 
pulsed, and after the most obstinate resistance, in which 
they would receive no quarters, they were slain almost 
to a man, and their women and children taken prisoners. 
There were nearly two hundred of their warriours killed 
in this affair. The loss of the Americans was five killed 
and fortv wounded. 

Late in the morning of the seventh, a friendly Indian 
brought intelligence to general Jackson, that about thir- 
ty miles below his camp, there were a number of Creeks 
collected at a place called Talledega, where they were 
engaged in besieging a number of friendly Indians, who 
must inevitably perish unless speedily relieved. This 
officer, whose resolutions were as rapidly executed as they 
were formed, marched at twelve o'clock the same night, 
at the head of twelve hundred men, and arrived within 
six miles of the place the next evening. At midnight he 
again advanced, by seven o'clock was within a mile of 
the enemy, and immediately made the most judicious 
arrangements for surrounding them. Having approach- 
ed in tbis manner almost unperceived, within eighty 
yards of the Indians, the battle commenced on their part 
with great fury, but being repulsed on all sides, they at- 
tempted to make their escape, but soon found themselves 
enclosed ; two companies having at .irst given way, a 
space was left through which a considerable number ot 
the enemy escaped, and w*»re pursued to the mountains 
with great slaughter. In this action the American h|ss 
was fifteen killed and eighty wounded. That of the Creeks 
was little short of three hundred ; their whole force ex- 
ceeded a thousand. 

General Cocke, who commanded the other division of 
the Tennessee militia, on the eleventii detached general 
V/hite from Fort Armstrong, where he was encamped 



226 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



against the hostile towns on the Tallapoose river. After 
Hiarching the whole night of the seventeenth, he surpris- 
ed a town at day -light, containing upwards of three hun- 
dred warriours, sixty of whom were killed and the rest 
taken prisoners. Having burnt several of their villages se' 
which had been deserted, he returned on the twenty -third, 
without losing a single man. 

The Georgia militia, under general Floyd, advanced 
into the Creek country, about the last of the month. 
Receiving information that a great number of Indians n 
were collected at the Autossee towns, on the Tallapoose 
river, a place which they called their beloved ground, 
and where, according to their prophets, no white man 
could molest them, general Floyd, placing himself at 
the head of nine hundred militia, and four hundred 
friendly Creeks, marched from his encampment on the 
Chatahouchie. On the evening of the twenty-eighth, he 
encamped within ten miles of the place, and resuming 
his march at one o'clock, reached the towns about six, 
and commenced an attack upon both at the same mo- 
ment. His troops were met by the Indians with uncom- 
mon bravery ; and it was not until after an obstinate re- 
sistance, that they were forced, by his musketry and 
bayonets, to fly to the thickets and copses in the rear ol 
the towns. In the course of three hours the enemy was 
completely defeated, and the villages in flames. Eleven 
Americans were killed and fifty wounded, among the lat-; 
ter the general himself: of the enemy, it is supposed thatlii 
besides the Autossee and Tallassee kings, upwards ol|ti 
two hundred were killed. i?t 

This just retribution, it was hoped, would bring these 
wretched creatures to a proper sense of their situations: 
but unfortunately it had not this effect, they still persist 
ed in their hostilities against us. In the month of De 
cember, general Claiborne marched a detachment agains 
the towns of Eccanachaca, on the Alabama river. Or 
the twenty -second, he came suddenly upon them, killec 
thirty of their warriours, and after destroying their vilU jj^ 
ges, returned with a trifling loss. 11.! 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 2^ 

After the battle of Talledega, general Jackson was left 
"with but a handful of men, in const^quence of the term 
|of service of the militia having expired. On the four- 
Iteenth of January he was fortunately reinforced by eight 
1 hundred volunteers from Tennessee, and soon after by 
'several hundred friendly Indians. He was also joined 
1 by general Coffee with a number of officers, his militia 
having returned home. On the seventeenth, with a view 
il of making a diversion in favour of general Floyd, and 
Mat the same time of relieving Fort Armstrong, which 
Awas said to he threatened, he penetrated the Indian coun- 
kry. On the evening of the twenty first, believing him- 
self, from appearances, in the vicinity of a large body 
if Indians, he encamped with great precaution, and 
placed himself in the best attitude of defence. Some 
b'me in the night, one of his spies brought information 
:bat he had seen the enemy a few miles off, and from 
their being busily engaged in sending away their women 
ind children, it was evident they had discovered the 
\mericans, and would either escape or make an attack 
jefore morning. While the troops were in this state of 
eadiness, they were vigorously attacked on their left 
lawk about daylight; the enemy was resisted with firm- 
less, and after a severe contest, they fled in every di- 
ection. This was, however, soon discovered to be a 
eint; general Coffee having been detached with four 
lundred men, to destroy the enemy's camp, with direc- 
ions not to attack it, if strongly fortified, returned with 
tiiatjnformation that it would not be prudent to attempt it 
dsof vithout artillery ; a half an hour had scarcely elapsed, 
vhen the enemy commenced a fierce atta^ k on Jackson's 
tliesejeft flank. It seems they had intended, by the first onset, 
;ions;jo draw the Americans into a pursuit, and by that means 
jrsist' reate a confusion ; but this was completely prevented 
ifDe-y Jackson's causing his left flank to keep its position. 



Jeneral Coffee, with about fifty of his officers, acting as 
olunteers, assailed the Indians on the left, while about 
wo hundred friendly Indians came upon them on the 
ight. The whole line giving them one fire, resolutely 
barged ; and the enemy being disappointed in their plan, 



S2S HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

fled with precipitation. On the left flank of the Indians 
the contest was kept up some time longer; general Coffee 
was severely wounded, and his aid, A. 13onaldson, killed; 
on being reinforced by a party of the friendly Indians, he 
compelled the enemy to fly, leaving fifty of their warri- 
ours on the ground. 

General Jackson, being apprehensive of another attack, 
fortified his camp for the night ; the next day, fearing a 
want of provisions, he found it necessary to retreat, and 
before night reached Enotachopco, having passed a dan- 
gerous defile without interruption. In the morning he 
had to cross a defile still more dangerous, where he 
might expect that the enemy had formed an ambuscade ; 
he therefore determined to pass at some other point. J'he 
most judicious arrangements having been made for the 
disposition of his force in case of attack, he moved for 
ward towards the pass which he had selected. The front 
guard, with part of the flank columns, together with the 
wounded, had scarcely crossed the creek^ when the 
alarm was given in the rear. Jackson immediately gave 
orders for his right and left columns to wheel on thei 
pivot, and crossing the stream above and below, assail 
the flanks and rear of the enemy, and thus completely 
enclose them. But, to his astonishment and mortification, 
when the word was given for these columns to form, and 
a few guns were fired, they precipitately gave v/ay. Thi? 
unaccountable flight had well nigh proved fatal : it drewl™' 
along with it the greater part otthe centre column, leav J ^ 
ing not more than twenty -five men, who being formed bjl"'^ 
colonel Carrol, maintained their ground for a time againslF^ 
overwhelming numbers. All that could now be opposetlP^' 
to the enemy, were the few who remained of the reaifc 
guard, the artillery company, and captain ilupel's comp 
pany of spies. Their conduct, however, was admirable^ 
Lieutenant Armstrong, with the utmost coolness aniP'''' 
intrepidity, dragged, with the assistance of a few morcW 
the six pounder up the hdl, although exposed to a heavW 
fire ; and having gained his position, loaded the piecll^^Ti 
with grape, and fired it with such eft'ect, that after a feilj'^^ 
discharges, the enemy was repulsed. The Indians werl'Wl 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 229 

pursued for several miles, by colonel Carrol, colonel 
Higgins, and captains Elliot and Pipkins. Captain Gor- 
don, of the spies, had partly succeeded in turning their 
flanks, and by this impetuous charge, contributed greatly 
to restore the day. The Americans now continued their 
inarch without further molestation. In these different en- 
gagements, about twenty Americans were killed and se- 
venty-five wounded ; in the last about one hundred and 
eighty of the Creeks were slain. 

Meanwhile general Floyd was advancing towards the 
Indian territory, from the Chatahouchie river. On the 
twenty-seventh of January his camp was attacked by a 
large body of Indians about an hour before day. They 
stole upon the centinels, fired upon them, and then rush- 
ed with great impetuosity towards the line. The action 
soon became general ; the front of both flanks vyas close- 
ly pressed, but the firmness of the officers and men re- 
pelled their assaults at every point. As soon as it be- 
came sufficiently light, general Floyd strengthened his 
right-wing, and formed his cavalry in the rear, then di- 
rected a charge ; the enemy were driven before the bay- 
onet, and being pursued by the cavalry, many of them 
were killed. The loss of general Floyd was' 17 killed 
and 132 wounded. That of the Indians could not be 
j ascertained ; thirty-seven of their warriours were left 
dead on the field, but it is thought their loss was very 
considerable. 

By this time, it might be supposed that the Creeks had 

been satisfied with the experiment of war, but they ap- 

s'j^pearto have been infatuated in a most extraordinary de- 

,|igree. From the influence of their prophets over their 

^^superstitious minds, they were lead on from one ruinous 

j^ eftbrt to another, in hopes that the time would at last ar- 

lg rive, when their enemies would be delivered into their 

J hands. General Jackson having received considerable 

reinforcements from Tennessee, and being joined by a 

number of friendly Indians, set out on an expedition to 

J the Tallapoose river. He proceeded from the Coose on 

:^ the 24th of March, reached the southern extremity of the 

New Youca on the 27th, at a place called the Horse-shoe- 

^ 20 



230 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

bend of the Coose. Nature furnishes few situations so 
eligible for defence, and here the Creeks, by the direction 
of their prophets, had made their last stand. Across the 
neck of land they had erected a breastwork of the great- 
est compactness and strength, from five to eight feet 
high, and provided with a double row of port-holes art 
fully arranged. In this place they considered themselves 
perfectly secure ; the assailants could not approach with- 
out being exposed to a double and cross fire from the In- 
diana who lay behind. The area thus enclosed by the 
breastworks, was little short of one hundred acres. The 
warriours from Oakfu?_kee, Oakshaya, liilebees, the Fish 
Ponds, and Eupata towns, had collected their force atic 
this place, in number exceeding a thousand. ill 

Early in the morning of the twenty-seventh general^ 
Jackson having encamped the preceding night within sislif 
miles of the bend, detached general Coffee, with thf'" 
mounted men and nearly the whole of the Indian force 
to pass the river at a ford about three miles below thei 
encampment, and to surround the bend in such a manner 
that none of them should escape by attempting to cros 
the river. With the remainder of his force, genera 
Jackson advanced to tlie point of the breast-work, and a 
half past ten, planted his artillery on a small eminencii 
within eighty yards of the nearest point of the worlii 
and within two hundred and fifty of the farthest. A bris 
cannonade was opened upon the centre, and a severe fir 
was kept up with musketry and rifles, when the Indian 
ventured to show themselves behind their defences. I 
the mean time, general Coffee having cros&ed below, halla 
advanced towards the village; when within half a mil I lei 
of that which stood at the extremity of the peninsuli 
the Indians gave their yell; Coffee expecting an imm* 
diate attack, drew up his men in order of battle, and i 
this manner continued to move forward. The frienc 
ly Indians had previously taken possession of the ban 
tor the purpose of preventing the retreat of the enemy 
but they no sooner heard the artillery of Jackson, and tllitr, 
approach of Coffee, than they rushed forward to tljir 
banks; while the militia, apprehending an attack frol iii 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 231 

the Oakfuskee villages, were obliged to remain in order 
of battle. The friendly Indians, unable to remain silent 
spectators, began to fire across the stream, about one 
hundred yards wide, while some plunged into the river, 
and swimming across, brought back a number of canoes ; 
in these the greater part embarked, landed on the ]}enin- 
sula, then advanced into the village, drove the enemy 
from their huts up to the fortifications, and continued to 
annoy them during the whole action. This movement of 
the Indians, rendered it necessary that a part of Coifee*s 
line should take their place. 

General Jackson finding that his arrangements were 
complete, at length yielded to the earnest solicitations of 
his men to be led to the charge. The regular troops led 
by colonel Williams and major Montgomery, were in a 
moment in possession of the nearest part of the breast- 
j works : the militia accompanied them with equal firm- 
ess and intrepidity. Having maintained for a few 
iiinutes a very obstinate contest, muzzle to muzzle 
^through the port-holes, in which many of the enemy's 
' alls were welded to the American bayonets, they suc- 
eeded in gaining the opposite side of the works. The 
aievent could no longer be doubtful ; the enemy, although 
cinany of them fought with that kind of bravery which 
rlLlesperation inspires, were cut to pieces. The whole 
argin of the river, which surrounded the peninsula, was 
rfitrewed with the slain. Five hundred and fifty-seven 
iDSvere found, besides those thrown into the river by their 
Ifriends, or drowned in attempting to escape. Not more 
liaikhan fifty could have escaped. Among the slain was 
iheir great prophet Manahoe, and two others of less note. 
ulikbout three hundred women and children were taken 
iii)e)risoners. Jackson's loss was twenty -six white men 
dialled, and one hundred and seven wounded ; eighteen 
ent^herokees killed and thirty-six wounded ; and five 
lanrriendly Creeks killed and eleven wounded. 
,iiiv This most decisive victoirput^an en d to the Cree k 
d th v^. ■ TneJpinfanS^gow'e^ 

jhrouVpTeieTy^ brokejil^ Jaclcson soon after scoured the 
(roijountries on the Coose and Tallapoose 5 a party of the 



232 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

enemy, on the latter river, on his approach, fled to Pen 
sacola. The greater part of the Creeks now came for- 
ward and threw themselves on the mercy of the victors 
A detachment of militia from North and South Carolina, 
under the command of colonel Pearson, scoured the 
country on the Alabama, and received the submission of 
a great number of Creek warriours and their prophets 

In the course of the summer a treaty of peace was dic- 
tated to them by Jackson, on severe but just terms 
They ao;reed to yield a portion of their country as an 
indemnity for the expenses of the war ; they conceded 
t!ie privilege of opening roads through their country, to- 
gether with the liberty of navigating their rivers ; the^ 
also stipulated to hold no intercourse with any British or 
Spanish post, or garrison, and to deliver up the property 
they had taken from the whites or friendly Indians. The 
general, on the part of the United States, undertook t( 
guarantee their territory, to restore all their prisoners 
and in consideration of their destitute situation, to fur 
nish them gratuitously with the necessaries of life, unti 
they could provide for themselves. They also engage( 
to establish trading houses, and endeavour to bring baeji" 
the nation to their former state. 

It is truly distressing to contemplate the ruin of thes 
tribes, who were making such rapid advances to civiliza 
tion. Their villages were entirely destroyed, and thei 
herds, which had become numerous, were killed by then 
selves at an early part of the contest. It is to be hope( 
they will be restored to their former prosperity, thoug 
their experience has been, dearly bought. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 233 



CHAPTER XIV. 

General Wilkinson retires to Plattsburg-— Gen. Brown marches 
to the Niagara frontier—Affair of La Colle— Exertions of 
commodore M'Donough to create a naval force — Contest for 
superiority on Lake Ontario — Mtack of Oswego — Death of 
colonel Forsythe — Colonel Campbell's expedition— Gallant 
defence of captain Holmes— Serious crisis in the state of our 
affairs — Commodore Hardy invades the northern sea-coast — 
Takes possession of Eastport and Castine— Gallant defence of 
Stonington — The John Adams destroyed. 

After the failure of the campaign against the British 
provinces, the Northern army remained in winter quar- 
ters, without any material occurrence, until towards the 
latter end of Febr .ary. General Wilkinson had sub- 
mitted several plans of attack, on the different British 
posts ir- his vicinity, with a view of cutting off the com- 
munication between Upper and Lower Canada ; these 
however, did ^ot meet the approbation of the secretary 
at war: who gjave orders that the American force should 
be with.drawn from its present position, and stationed at 
Plattsburgh ; and that two thousand men should be 
1 marched under general Brown to Sackett's Harbour, v.ith 
a proportion of field artillery and battering cannon. I'he 
general, in obedience to these orders, after destroying his 
barracks, retired to the place appointed. The British, 
apprized of his movements, detached a large force under 
colonel Scott, of the 103d, who destrosed the publick 
stores, and pillaged the private citizens, but on hearing 
[of tiie approach of an American foice, retreated in the 
[most precipitatt' manner. The whole party suff«,'ied 
imuch from a severe snow storm, besides losing upv\ards 
jof two hundred deserters. It is about this time, tiiat de- 
isertions became one of the serious difficulties which the 
enemy had to encounter : tlieir custom (»r per!uitting 
their soldiery to plunder in a! most every instance, may 
20* 



234 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

perhaps have arisen from the necessity of indulging; them 
in this, as one methotl of retaining them in their service. 
Towards the latter end of March, general Wilkinson 
determined to erect a battery at a place called Rouse's 
Point, where his engineer had discovered a position from 
which the enemy's fleet, then laid up at St. John's, might 
be kept in check. The ice breaking up on Lake Cham- 
plain sooner than usual, defeated his plan ; a body of the 
enemy, upwards of two thousand strong, on discovering 
bis design had been collected atLaColle mill, three miles 
from Rouse's Point, for the purpose of opposing him. — 
With a view of dislodging this party, and at the same 
time of forming a diversion in favour of general Brown, 
who had marched against Niagara, the commander in 
chief, at the head of about four thousand men, crossed 
the Canada lines, on the thirtieth of March. After dis- 
persing several of the enemy's skirmishing parties, he 
reached La Colle mill, a large fortified stone house, at 
which major Hancock commanded. An eighteeti poun- 
der was ordered up, but owing to the nature ot the 
ground over whicli it had to pass, the transportation was 
found impracticable ; a twelve plunder and a live inch 
hovx itzer, were therefore substituted. These pieces, un- 
der the direction of captain M'Pherson, and lieutenants 
Larrabee and Sheldon, were posted at the distance of 
two hundred paces from the house, and covered b; the 
second brigade, with part of colonel Clark's command, 
under general Smitl), on the right; and the third brigade 
under general Bissel, on the left. Colonel Miller was 
ordered to take a position with the twelfth and thirteenth 
regiuients, in order to cut oft' the enemy's retreat; while 
the reserve, composed of four select corps of the first bri- 
gade, was placed under the command of i>,eneral M'Comb. ; 
These ariaagements being made, the battery opened up- 
on the house, and the fire was promptl}' returned. Ihe 
different corps were greatly exposed to the tire from the 
house ; it was found impossible to effect a breacii, al- 
thougli the guns were managed with great skill. Captain 
M'Pherson y»as wounded at the comnienceuient of the 
attack, but continued uotwithstauding at his post, until a 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 835 

second shot had broken his thigh ; his next officer Lara- 
bee was shot through the lungs ; lieutenant Sheldon kept 
up the fire until the end of the affair, and behaved in a 
manner which drew forth the praise of his general. 

The British commander, perceiving that the Ameri- 
cans persisted in bombarding the house, made a desperate 
sortie, and several times charged upon the cannon, in 
which he was repulsed bj the covering troops, and com- 
pelled to retire to his fortress with loss. It being now 
found impracticable to make an impression on this strong 
building, whose walls were of unusual thickness, the 
commandffr in chief, calling in his different parties, fell 
back in good order. The loss of the Americans in this 
afiair, was upwards of one hundred and forty in killed 
and wounded, that of the British is not ascertained. 
The unfortunate issue of this affair, and the fadure in 
the last campaign, brought general Wilkinson into disre- 
pute with the publick. One great fault inlierent in the 
nature of our government, is the hasty and harsh decision 
respecting the conduct and character of men ; it no more 
ceases to be injustice when committed. by ten millions, 
than if4)y ten individuals. Men are often ruined in pub- 
lick estimation, for slight causes, or for uncontrollable ac- 
cidents; and tiiey are as often elevated to the highest 
pinnacle of celebrity, for actions which may be better 
considered the effect of chance, than the test of merit. 
The administration, yielding to the popular voice, thought 
proper to suspend him from the command, and the army 
was left under general Izard. General VVilkinson was 
afterwards tried, and honourably acquitted of all the char- 
ges alleged against him. 

The most discouraging difiiculties presented them- 
selves in the economy, equipment, and government of 
iU<} American forces, to the very last hour of the war. 
The severity of iha climate on the borders of the St. 
Lawrence and the lakes, to which our tyros were fre- 
quently exposed, and their want of knowledge and expe- 
rience to render themselves comfortable in camp, were 
the causes of fatal diseases, which carried off a greater 
number than fell in oattle. The proportion of sick and 
unfit for duty was at all times very great. From the 



S36 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

want of that system, regularity and strictness, which be- 
long to old establishments, there existed at one moment a 
superabundance of all the necessary munitions, and at 
another, as great a scarcity. There was no end to the ir- 
regular and unforeseen expenses, which the government 
was constantly called upon to incur. The most vexatious 
abuses were practised in every subordinate department, 
and which baffled every effort to reform. All this must 
be attributed to the true cause; to our settled habits of 
peace, and to the slowness w ith which the organization of 
military establishments, must ever be effected under a 
constitution like ours. We had yet to leain and put in 
practice, the endless minutia of tlie police of the 
camp, which varies accordino; to a thousand circumstan- 
ces. We had no regular soldiers until almost the close 
. of the war. How could we expect that they should be 
formed ? Our subalterns were at first, generally men of 
little education of any kind, and required themselves the 
instruction which they undertook to give. 

To these unavoidable misfortunes, we have to add the 
disgraceful conduct of many of the frontier inhabitants, 
who continued regularly to suppl}' the enemy witii every 
thing of which they stood in want. In spite of every 
exertion to prevent it, a constant intercourse was kept 
up across the Canada line, and the British were not only 
furnished with immense quantities of provisions, without 
which they could not have subsisted their armies, but 
were also regularly informed of every thing which trans- 
pired on the American side. 

Shortly after the affair of La Colle, the greater part 
of the British force was collected at St. John's, and Isle 
Aux Noix, for the purpose of securing the entrance of 
the squadron into Lake Champlain. on the breaking up 
of the ice. This was effected early in May. Sometime 
before this, on the suggestion of general Wilkinson, 
commodore M'Donough had fortified the mouth of Otter 
river, so as to secure a passage of his flotilla, whicii then 
lay at Vergennes, higher up the river, waiting for its ar- 
mament. This precaution proved of great service. The 
commodore had laboured, with indefatigable industry, to 
provide a naval force on tiiis lake, to cope v/itli that of 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 237 

the ehemy ; the vessels had been built during the autumn 
and winter, but their armament did not arrive before 
spring. The first object of the enemy, when they found 
the navigation open, was to attempt the destruction of 
the fleet, before it could move upon its element prepar- 
ed to meet them. On the twelfth of May, not long after 
the erection of the battery on the cape, at the entrance of 
the river, a bomb vessel and eight large gallies were 
stationed by the enemy across the creek, for the purpose 
of blockading the squadron, and at the same time to in- 
tercept naval supplies, which it was supposed would be 
sent by water, for the purpose of completing its arma- 
ment. Captain Thornton of the liglit aitillery, and lieu- 
tenant Cassin, with a number of sailors, were ordered to 
the defence of the battery. Indications being at the 
same time discovered of an attempt by the enemy to as- 
sail the battery in the rear, general Davis, of the Ver- 
mont militia, called out part of his brigade, in order to 
oppose the landing. At day-break on the fourteenth, 
the enemy commenced an attack upon the works, but 
were so effectually resisted, that they were compelled 
to withdraw from their position with the loss of two gal- 
lies, which they were obliged to abandon. Soon after, 
the whole squadron moved down the lake, but not with- 
out some skirmishing with general Wright of the militia, 
as they passed Burlington. Commodore M'Donough 
had attempted to bring some of the American vessels to 
the mouth of the river, but the British squadron had dis- 
appeared before he could attain his object. 

While the naval preparations were making on Lake 
Champlain, the winter and spring were taken up with 
the preparations for a contest for superiority on Lake 
Ontario. The B'itish converted it, h^»wever, into a con- 
test in building the greatest number and the largest ships. 
At Kingston, a ship of extraordinary size was building; 
for the enemy no longer trusted, as they had done with 
other nations, to superiour seamanship and valour. Com- 
modore Chauncey was under the necessity of building 
additional vessels, for the purpose of maintaining as near- 
ly as possi!)le a i equaiity of force. The enemy was, how- 
ever, not satisfied with endeavouring to conquer us in 



238 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

ship building, thej made numerous attempts to destroy 
by insidious means, those already built by the Americans, 
On the twenty -fifth of April, three of the enemy's boats, 
provided wi4h the means of blowing up the vessels, suc- 
ceeded in getting close into Sackett's Harbour undisco- 
vered ; but before they could execute their purpose, they 
were detected and fired upon by lieutenant Dudley, the 
officer of the guard, on which they threw their powder 
into the lake, and pulled otF. Failing in all these at- 
tempts, from the vigilance of the Americans, they next 
formed the determination to intercept the naval stores on 
their way from Oswego, where they had been deposited. 
Hither Sir Jamfis proceeded with his whole fleet, and 
having on board a large body of troops under general 
Drummond, proceeded on the fifth of May, with the de- 
termination of storming tlie town and capturing the 
equipments destined for the new vessels. The British 
commenced a heavy bombardment, which was kept up for 
several days ; the unexpected and gallant resistance of 
the garrison, consisting of three hundred men under 
lieutenant colonel Mitchel, was in vain against such su- 
periour force. The schooner Growler, then in Oswego 
creek to receive the cannon, was sunk to prevent her 
from being taken, and all the tents that could be procured 
were pitched on the village side, to give the appearance 
of a large force of militia. The sailors of the (jrowler, 
under lieutenant Pearce, were added to the garrison; 
the shore battery was commanded by captain Boyle, se- 
conded by lieutenant Legate. At one o'clock, fifteen 
barges filled with troops, moved towards the shore, pre- 
ceded by several gun-boats, while a heavy cannonade 
was commenced by the larger vessels. They were so 
warmly received by the battery on the shore, that the 
boats were twice repulsed, and one of the largest fell into 
the hands of the Americans. 

Tlie squadron now stood off, but this was evidently 
for the purpose of renewing the attack, in such a man- 
ner as to render it effectual. They again approached on 
the sixth, having resolved to land under cover of their 
ships; they accordingly kept up a heavy fire for three 
hours, while their land forces, two thousand in number, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 239 

under general De Watteville, succeeded in gaining the 
shore, after being gallantly opposed by lieutenant Pearc© 
and his seamen. Colonel Mitchell now abandoned the 
Fort, and joining his corps to the marines and seamen, 
engaged the enemy's flank, and did great execution. 
Finding further resistance useless, he fell back, formed 
his troops, and took up his march to the Fails of Oswego, 
destroying the bridges in his rear Hitherto, to the inex- 
pressible disappointment of the British, the naval stores 
had already been removed, and all their trouble, and the 
loss which they sustained, procured them nothing more 
than a few barrels of provisions and some whiskey. This 
was purchased with a loss of two hundred and thirty -five 
men, in killed and wounded ; they were certainly en- 
titled to the victory, but they never thought proper to 
claim it. The loss of the Americans was sixty-nine in 
killed, wounded and missing ; among tbe first, a promis- 
ing officer, lieutenant Blaney. 

On the evening of the same day, a part of this force 
proceeded to Pultneyville, and demanded the publick 
stores. The inhabitants were unable to repel the inva- 
ders, who indulged themselves in their usual depreda- 
tions; when general Swift, of the New-York militia, op- 
portunely arriving, with a part of his brigade, put them 
to flight. The British soon after, hearing that the Supe- 
riour, which had lately been launched, had received her 
equipments from the interiour, broke up the blockade, and 
retui ne<l to Kingston. Another new ship, the Mohawk, 
was at this time on the stocks, and as she would have to 
be supplied with her equipments from the same place, it 
was determined, since the British had disappeared, to 
transport them by water, and avoid the expense and de- 
lay of land transportation. To deceive the enemy, who 
had numerous gun-boats hovering about the different 
creeks, a report was circulated that it was intended to 
forward the stores to the Oneida Lake. Nineteen bar- 
ges were loaded at Oswego, and major Appling was des- 
patched by general Gaines, with a detachment to aid 
captain VVoolsey in their defence. On the twenty -eighth 
of May, captain VYooiseyj finding the coast clear;,^ reach- 



240 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ed the village of Oswego by sun-set, and taking advan 
tage of the darkness of the night, put into the lake 
The next day they reached Sandy Creek, and ascend 
ing it a few miles, despatched a boat to look out for the 
British on the Lake ; this boat was discovered by some 
gun vessels, and immediately chased. Major Appling 
and captain Woolsey determined to draw them into 
an auibuscade. As had been anticipated, the enemy 
pushed their gun-boats and cutters up the Creek, while a 
party landed and ascended along the bank. 'Ihe Ameri- 
cans now suddenly rushed upon them, and in a few 
moments, after one fire, by which a number of tlieni were 
killed and wounded, the whole party was taken prison- 
ers, consisting of four lieutenants of the navy, two 
lieutenants of marines, and one hundred and thirty 
men, together with all their boats and cutters. Major 
Appling, for this affair, was breveted, and his officers, 
lieutenants Smith, M*Intosh, Calhoun, M'Farland, and 
Armstrong, and ensign Austin, were publickly thanked. 
The conduct of captain Woolsey and his officers wasi 
not less applauded. A party of Oneida Indians had 
joined the Americans in this affair, and were the first to 
reach the British, after their surrender: these were 
about to commence the mode of warfare practised by the 
Anglo Indians, attl.e River Raisin, Lewistown, and Tus 
carora, but were compelled, greatly to their displeasure., 
to desist.* The barges soon after arrived at Sackett's|[ 
Harbour in safety. 

The consequences of this affair, were severely felt b^ 
the British ; they lost a number of their best seamen am. 
officers, and commodore Chauncey was once more mas 
ter of the Lake. He accordingly sailed out, and seve 
ral times presented himself before Kingston, but Si: 
James did not think it prudent to stir out, until his larg<|: p| 
ship of 112 guns, then on the stocks, should be completjf jj 

! k 

* The Chief, on this occasion, expressed himself in this marjj | 
Tier. " When British come Bufxaioe, they kill white man, thejj ., 
kill Indian, they kill woman, they burn all house. — When Bri '"' 
ish come here, you no let Indian kill iara — you give eat — dis k ;Hlf 
good.". '«[ 



i. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 241 

ed. This mode of warfare was exceedingly expensive, 
but more to the British than to the Americans ; it is as- 
certained that it cost the former mote than twice what 
was expended by the Americans, in consequence of their 
greater difficulties of transportation. 

No event of any consequence transpired in this quarter 
until late in the summer, save a skirmish, which wasren- Nj 
dered important by the death of that active though ec- 
centrick partizan officer, colonel Forsythe, who had been 
a terrour to the British. Having made an incursion as 
far as Odelltown, he attacked a party of the enemy, and 
retreated with a view of drawing them into an ambuscade ; 
butnot completely succeeding, a severe skirmish ensued, 
in which seventeen of the enemy were killed, among their 
number the celebrated partizan officer captain Malloux, a 
Canadian, who was shot by lieutenant Hiley. After the 
death af Forsythe, the command devolved on major Ap- 
pling. 

General Brown had, in the mean time, reached the Ni- 
agara frontier, and it was expected that the enemy would 
be immediately expelled from the American territory ; 
but his situation did not permit the attempt, and with the 
exception of a few partial encounters, tranquillity pre- 
vailed along the Niagara frontier during the summer. 
It would be improper to pass over in silence, however, an 
affair which took place in this quarter. Colonel Camp- 
bell crossed the Lake from Erie, with about five Ivindred 
men, and landing at Dover, a small village on the Cana- 
da side, proceeded to destroy the mills, together with the 
greater part of the private dwellings. The expedition 
was undertaken without orders, and as his conduct in this 
affair, though otherwise a meritorious officer, was greatly 
reprobated, a court of inquiry, at which general Scott 
presided, was instituted. The court decided, that the 
destruction of the distilleries and mills might be justi- 
fied by the usages of war, as they furnished the British 
troops with their necessary supplies ; but with respect to 
the other part of his conduct, although excused in some 
measure by the example of the enemy, in the destruction 
of the villages on the Niagara, it was nevertheless con- 

21 



242 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



demned. In the opinion of the court, " acts of retaliation [J, 
on the part of a nation, proud of its rights, and consci-j 
ous of their power of maintaining them, should reluctant- ^j 
ly be resorted to, and only by instructions from the high- j^] 
est authority." The improper conduct of colonel Camp- 
bell was mitigated by his humane "treatment to the de- [^ 
fenceless part of the inhabitants, to the women and chil- ^ 
dren, in which he did not follow the example of the (^ 
British. 

To the Westward, but little of moment transpired 
during the remainder of the war, being once more in 
quiet possession of all our territory except Michilimack 
inac. Early m the spring, however, intelligence wasi 
received by colonel Butler, who commanded at Detroit, 
that a considerable body of regulars, Indians, and mili- 
tia, was collected at the river Thames, Captain Lee, 
with a party of mounted men, was sent to reconnoitre, 
and succeeded in gaining the rear of the British forces 
unobserved, and making, prisoners of several officers 5 
among the rest, of colonel Baubee, who had commanded 
a party of Indians in their depredations on the New-YorkI 
frontier. 

A gallant affair was soon after achieved by captain 
Holmes, a youth of the most promising talents, and 
brother to the governour of the Mississippi Territory. 
With a party of about one hundred and sixty rangers 
and mounted men, he proceeded on the twenty-first of 
February against some of the enemy's posts. About the 
beginning of March, he received intelligence, that a 
British force, which afterwards proved to be double his 
own, was descending the river Thames. Captain Holmes, 
finding himself not in a situation to give battle, from the 
fatigue which his men had already encountered, and his 
ignorance of the strength of the enemy's party, fell 
back a few miles, and chose a strong position, where he 
was confident of being able to defend himself, until he 
could obtain the necessary information of the British 
lie despatched a small body of rangers for this purpose 
but which soon returned, pursued by the enemy, but 
without being able to learn his strength. The British 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 243 

perceiving the strength of captain Holmes's position, re- 
sorted to stratagem for the purpose of drawing him from 
t. They feigned an attack, and then retreated, taking 
care not to show more than sixty or seventy men : cap- 
tain Holmes now pursued, but with caution ; and after 
proceeding about five miles, discovered their main body 
drawn up to receive him, on which he immediately re- 
turned to his former position. Having disposed his 
troops in the most judicious manner, he firmly waited 
for them ; being protected in front by a deep ravine, and 
the approaches on the other sides somewhat difficult. 
The attack was commenced at the same moment on every 
point, with savage yells, and the sound of bugles, the re- 
gulars charging up the heights from the ravine ; the other 
Bides were rapidly assailed by militia and Indians. The 
first approached within twenty paces of the American 
line, against a very destructive fire ; but the front sec- 
tion being cut to pieces, those who followed severely 
wounded, and many of their officers cut down, they re- 
tired to the woods, within thirty or forty paces, and the 
firing continued with great spirit on both sides. The 
American regulars being uncovered, were ordered to 
kneel, that the brow of the heights might assist in screen- 
ing them from the enemy; but the enemy's covering was 
insufficient, a single tree affording no shelter even to one, 
from the extended line of the Americans, much less to 
the squads that stood together. On the other sides, the 
attack was sustained with equal coolness, and with con- 
siderable loss to the foe; the Americans had, on three 
sides, thrown together some logs hastily, and no charge 
being made, they could aim their pieces at leisure, with 
jthat deadly certainty, which belongs to the backwoods- 
Iman. The British, after an hour of hard fighting, ordered 
a retreat, and as the night approached, captain Holmes 
thought it not advisable to pursue: besides, his men 
I were much fatigued, and many of them had nearly worn 
tout their shoes on the hard frozen ground. The Ameri- 
can loss on this occasion did not amount to more than six 
jkilled and wounded. According to the statement of the 
British, their loss was sixty-five in killed and wounded, 



24^i HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

besides Indians. In consequence of his good conduct, 
on this affair, captain Holmes was promoted to the rank 
of major. 

Hitherto nothing of moment had occurred, which could 
have much influence on the final result of the war. On 
the ocean, it had been glorious for us; on the lakes and 
on the frontier, our arms during the last year, had re 
trieved our former disgraces; and on the sea-coast, the 
enemy had discovered that it was not an easy matter to 
make an impression. It is true, the disastrous issue of 
the campaign against Canada, took away all hope of be- 
ing able to make an impression on that province, under 
present circumstances ; but the happy termination of the 
Indian war to the Westward, and its success to the 
South, in some degree afforded a consolation. An im 
portant crisis, however, had arrived in the general state 
of our affairs. The third year of the war found the situa 
tion of this country materiall-y changed. The most dis 
heartening periods of the revolution scarcely presented a 
state of things more painfully embarrassing. The dis 
tress of the northern states, whose subsistence, in a great 
measure, depended upon their shipping, and those of the 
people of the. south, whose staples had almost ceased to 
be of any value, together with embarrassments of the 
banks in the middle states, had begun, at last, to make us 
feel that we were at war. To a people who had been for 
years in the most flourishing state, a check to their pros 
perity, however it might result to their ultimate good, 
was felt as a positive afiliction. To the great body ol 
the farmers, in the interiour of the country, the effects oi 
hostilities were rather beneficial; their produce was 
raised in price, and their lands in value ; the wealth ol 
the cities, no longer applied to commerce, was diverted 
to the interiour, and was soon discovered in the improve 
ment of the lands, the increase of the inland towns, and 
the establishment of manufactures. But the number ol 
those, whom the war distressed or ruined, was propor- 
tioiidlly great; and as men are more loud in crying out 
against calamities, than forward in displaying their good 
fortune, the unfavourable side of the picture only was ex- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 245 

hibited. The philosopher might say, that what was lost 
to the nation, on one side, was gained in the other; but 
this reasoning could haVe little weight with the individual 
suiferers. In several -of the New England state?, coju- 
plaints assumed a more serious cast; a convention was 
talked of, and it was even insinuated, that they meant to 
secede from the union. This, indeed, would have been 
an event, which would have filled every American bosom 
with grief; a greater injury to our common country than 
a thousand wars. The collisions between the state au- 
thorities and that of the union, were beginning to pro- 
duce all the embarrassments, which had been predicted 
by Patrick Henry at the formation of the constitution, 
/rhe supposed existence of such a temper, at the period 
of our utmost need, could not fail to weaken the hands of 
the administration, and increase the disposition of Eng- 
land to prosecute the war. The embarrassments in our 
financial system were alarming, and it was confidently 
predicted, that from a want of funds, the administration 
would be compelled to yield up the reins of government, 
or throw the nation upon the mercy of the enemy. 

A new event had occurred in Europe, which could not 
be viewed with indifference, even on these dist'.nt shores ; 
and its consequence threatened us with a serious danger. 
The ambitious monarch of France had been hurled from 
his throne, by the combined powers of Europe, and the 
house of Bourbon restored. Tiiis event was received by 
some of our fellow citizens with open rejoicing, as though 
it brought some signal good fortune to this country, or to 
the human race. To this country it could bring no be- 
nefit, for it was not likely that the king of France could, 
any more tlian Napoleon, feel a friendship for us, al- 
though he might not so cordially hate or despise us. 
Louis the eighteenth could not be expected to entertain 
much love for republicks, and certainly not for ours, the 
contagion of vvliose example is said to liave contributed 
much to that dreadful revolution, in which his family had 
so severely suttered ; indeed it is natural that a repub- 
lick, like ours, should not be regarded with much com- 
placency by any monarch ; for, to Use the expression of 
21=* 



246 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

Demosthenes, " we are considered as a spy upon their ac- 
tions." Napoleon, having been already reduced within 
a reasonable compass, there was n6 longer any danger of 
his seizing the ships of England, and transporting seve- 
ral hundred thousand men to make a barren conquest of 
America : it is more probable that he would have paid a 
visit to the emperour of China. I am not the advocate of 
a cold and unfeeling policy. The unfortunate family of 
the French Bourbons, have suffered enough to atone for 
many errours and faults ; and as men, we might be per- 
mitted to express our satisfaction that providence had 
deigned to put a term to their miseries. It had, how- 
ever, become a maiter of indifference to us, whether the 
throne of France was occupied by an emperour or a king. 
But, as Great Britain had claimed the chief merit of this 
wonderful operation, publick rejoicings for the event had 
too much the appearance of a rejoicing for the success of 
our enemies, and for the abstract success ©f royalty, 
which whether of recent or ancient usurpation, ought to 
be equally nauseous to a republican. The event was, in 
reality, greatly adverse to our national interests. Fired 
by the success of the wars of the continent, and extrava- 
gantly elai^jd with her supposed power and greatness, 
the enemy was at liberty to send her veteran troops, and 
her numerous fleets, to chastise America; while our com- 
missioners were suffered to remain for months in neglect, 
under a pretence, that despised republicans might wait 
patiently in the anti-chamber, while Britain was engaged 
with personages of importance. This turn of affairs, far 
from producing exultation, ought rather to have depress- 
ed the friends of liberty and America. Great Britain 
was highly incensed that we had not waited, how long no 
one could tell, with all due patience, under the numer- 
ous outrages she had perpetrated for years, until, dis- 
engaged from all her European wars, she would have lei- 
sure to give us a severe chastisemeut for daring to assert 
our rights. It now behoved us to think no more of in- 
vading Canada; our Northern frontier was to belaid 
waste, our sea-coast devastated, and the utmost to be ex- 
pected, was a successful self-defence. In the plenitude 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 247 

of her arrogance, Britain talked of recolonization, and of 
crippling us for fifty years to come. Such was the situa- 
tion of America at this eventful period ; the time was ap- 
proaching, which would put to the test the strength of 
our confederation, and our ability for defence ; and what 
was still more interesting, the time had come, which 
would try our attachments to our political institutions, 
which, although not yet venerable from time, deserved 
the highest admiration for their justice and wisdom. The 
people of other nations could not view, with indifference, 
the fate of this asylum and sanctuary of the oppressed 
and unfortunate throughout the world. 

The northern sea-coast, which had thus far experienced 
little molestation from the enemy, became the object of 
attack early in the spring. On the Tth of April, a body 
of sailors and marines, to the number of two hundred, 
ascended the Connecticut river, as far as Saybrook, where 
they spiked the cannon and destroyed the shipping ; they 
proceeded thence to Brockway's ferry, where they did 
the same ; and afterwards, unapprehensive of attack, 
carelessly remained twenty-four hours. In the mean- 
time a body of militia, together with a number of marines 
and sailors, under captain Jones and lieutenant Biddle, 
had collected for the purpose of cutting off' their retreat; 
but the British, taking advantage of a very dark night, 
and using muffled oars, escaped to their fleet, after having 
destroyed two hundred thousand dollars worth of ship- 
ping. 

About tliis time the coasting trade was almost des- 
troyed by a British privateer, the Liverpool Packet, 
which cruised in the sound. Commodore Lewis sailed 
with a detachment of thirteen gun-boats, and succeeded 
in chasing her oft*. On his arrival at Saybrook, he found 
upwards of fifty vessels bound eastward, but afraid to 
venture out The commodore jconsented to take them 
under convoy, but was not able to promise them a pro- 
tection against the squadron then blockading New-Lon- 
don. They, however, being disposed to run the risk, he 
sailed with thein on the a5th, and in the afternoon of the 
same day, was compelled to throw himself between his 



248 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

convoy and a British frigate, a sloop of war and a tender, 
and kept up a contest until the coasters had safely reach- 
ed New-London. Having attained his ohject, he deter- 
mined to try what he could do with his g^inboats against 
the enemy's ships. Furnaces being hastily constructed, 
he began to throw hot balls at the enemy's sides, and re- 
peatedly set their ships on fire, without receiving any in- 
jury himself. The sloop soon withdrew, and the fire 
was principally directed against the frigate. One shot 
passed through her, very near the magazine ; her lieuten- 
ant, and a great number of her men, were already killed ; 
ker captain was on the point of striking, wlien he ob- 
served that the gun-boats had ceased firing. The night 
soon after coming on, the gun-boats desisted from the 
attack, determined to wait untd morning. At daylight, 
they perceived the squadron towing away ; it was re- 
solved to pursue theui, but several other frigates soon 
after made their appearance, and put a stop to this de- 
sign. This affair, together with that of Crany Island, 
revived the discussion on the utility of gun-boats in the 
defence of harbours and the coast. Great service had 
been rendered by captain Lewis on this as well as many 
other occasions. 

Formidable squadrons were kept up before the ports 
of New-York, New-London, and Boston ; and the whole 
eastern coast was exposed to the enemy. The war was 
carried on here in a very different manner from that to 
the south. Commodore Hardy would not permit any 
wanton outrages upon private property, or upon defence* 
kss individuals. In spite, however, of his general de- 
meanor, there were particular instances of the contrary 
on the part of the officers commanding smaller parties, 
and actuated by a thirst for plunder. At -the towns of 
Wareham and Scituate, they burned all the vessels at 
their moorings ; and at the former, they set fire to an 
extensive cotton manufactory. At a place called Booth- 
baj, they met with a spirited resistance, and were re- 
peatedly repulsed in various desperate attacks. 

An invasion of a more serious nature was made in July. 
On the eleventh of that niontiv, Sir Thomas Hardy, with 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 249 

a strong force, made a descent on Moose Island, and af- 
ter taking possession of Eastport, declared all the islands 
and towns, on the eastern side of Passamaquoddy hay, 
to appertain to his Britannick majesty, and required the 
inhabitants to appear within seven days and take the 
oath of alle<i;iance. About two-thirds of the inhabitants 
submitted ; but in the month of Auj^ust, the council of 
the Province of New -Brunswick declared, that notwith- 
standing the oath of allegiance, they should he consider- 
ed as a conquered people, and placed under military go- 
vernment. Eastport was soon after strongly fortified ; 
but it was found extremely difficult for the enemy to sub- 
sist his troops, and the tlesertions were so frequent as to 
render it almost impossible to keep up a garrison. 

The commodore soon after sailed with a part of his 
squadron, for the purpose of attacking Stonington. The 
appean^nce of this force excited much alarm, v>'hich was 
not diminished when they received a message from the 
commodore, to remove the women and children, as he 
had received orders to reduce the place to ashes. The 
inhabitants, although with very trifling means of defence, 
determined to make .m attempt to save their property. 
The handful of militia of the place, repaired to a small 
battery erected on the shore, and to abreast work thrown 
up for musketry ; and at the same time despatched an 
express to obtain assistance from general Cushing, com- 
manding at New-London. In the evening, five barges 
and a large launch, filled with men, approached the shore, 
under cover of a heavy fire from the ships. The Ameri- 
cans, reserving their fire until the eiieny were within 
short grape distance, opened their two •'ighteen-pound- 
ers, and soon compelled the invaders to ntire out of the 
reach of their battery. They next proceeded to another 
part of the town, which they supposed defenceless, but 
a part of the militia being detached thither with a six- 
pounder, tlie barges were again repulsed ; the enemy 
then retired to their ships, but determiued to renew the 
attack in the moniing ; and in the meantime, kept up a 
bombardment until midnight. The next morning it was 
discovered, that one of the enemy's vessels had ap- 



250 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

proached within pistol shot of the battery, and the barges 
advanced in still greater numbers than the day before ; 
these were again gallantly repulsed, and the vessel 
driven from her anchorage. The squadron then renew- 
ed the bombardment of the town, but without effect ; and 
on the twelfth the commodore thought proper to retire. 
The inhabitants, after this gallant defence, which ► consi- 
dering the means with which it was effected, and the 
igreat disparity of force opposed to them, deserves much 
praise ; once more occupied their dwellings in security. 

It was not long after thk, that the British occupied all 
that part of the District of Maine between Penobscot 
river and Pas>-amaquoddy bay, and declared it to be held 
as a colony* On the first of September, the governour 
of Nova Scotia, and admiral Griffith, entered the Penob- 
scot river, and took possession of Castine, which the 
garrison had previously evacuated. A proclamation was 
then issued, declaring that possession of that part of the 
province of Maine, east of the Penobscot, was formally 
taken in the name of his Britannick majesty ; the coun- 
try, which contained about thirty thousand inhabitants, 
was then gradually occupied, and possessed until, the 
conclusion of the war. 

A few days before the occupation of Castine, the fri- 
gate Adams, captain Morris, entered the Penobscot river, 
after a successful cruise : and having run upon a rock, 
was obliged to be hove down at Hampden, thirty-five 
miles up the river, for the purpose of being repaired. On 
the third of September, several of the British vessels, 
together with ten barges, and about one thousand men, 
ascended from Castine for the purpose of capturing the 
frigate. Captain Morris, apprised of their approach, 
erected some batteries on the neighbouring heights, and 
armed the militia ; finding, however, that there was no 
possibility of defending the vessel, he ordered the great- 
er part of his crew to retreat under lieutenant Wads- 
woi th^while the captain remained with a few men to 
blow up the ship. This he effected, but his retreat being 
cut oft*, he plun;^ed into the riv- r, and escaped by swim- 
ming. The British, disappointed in this undertaking, 
retired to Castine. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 251 



CHAPTER XV. 

Naval incidents —the Plantagenet 74, declines a contest witk 
commodore Rodgers — Captain Stewart chases a British fri- 
gate of equal force— Cruize of commodore Porter— Typee 
war — The Essex captured by the Phoebe and Cherub- -The 
Peacock captures the Epervier— The Wasp captures the Rein- 
deer — The Wasp sinks the Avon— Loss of the Wasp —Frig-ate 
President captured by a squadron— Constitution engag-es and 
captures two British sloops, the Cayenne and Levant — The 
Hornet captures the Penguin. 

The naval incidents of eighteen hundred and fourteen, 
are as grateful to American feelings, as those of the two 
former years. An occurrence took place in the verj be- 
ginning of the year, which afforded to us as much cause 
for triumph, as of mortification to the enemy. In the 
month of February, com.nodore Rodgers, on his return 
from a cruize in the President, found himself otf ^r^andy 
Hook, within a short distance of three large British ships 
of war, the nearest of which was the Plantagenet, a se- 
venty-four. Believing that an engagement with one, or 
all of them, was unavoidable, he cleared his ship for ac- 
tion, determining not to surrender without selling his 
ship as dearly as he could. But notwithstanding he fired 
several guns to windward, as a proof of his willingness 
to engage, the British vessels did not think proper to 
approach, and he safely reached New-York. Captain 
Lloyd, of the Plantagenet, after returning to England, 
accounted for his conduct, by alleging a mutiny in his 
ship, and several of his sailors were executed on the 
charge. 

Another aftair took place soon after, which furnished a 
still stronger proof of the now acknowledged superiority 
of America upon the ocean, an acknowledgment more 
strongly expressed than by words. In the month of 



25£ HISTORY OF THIE WAR. 

April, captain Stewart was also on his return in the Con 
stitution, after a cruize, when he was chased by two Bri- 
tish frigates and a brig, but escaped by su peri our sea- 
manship, into Marblehead. Sometime before, after cap- 
turing the publick schooner Picton, he fell in with the Bri- 
tish frigate La Pique, captain Maitland, who fled on the 
approach of the Constitution, and finally escaped during 
the night, after a long chase. Captain Maitland was 
complimented by the board of admiralty, for thus obey- 
ing their instructions, in not fighting an American fri- 
gate singly 5 it having been determined that not less than 
two frigates could be a match for an American. The 
enemy had become equally shy of the gun-boat flotilla. 
Commodore Lewis repeatedly beat off the BritisTi vessels 
near Sandy Hook, and facilitated the return of the Ame- 
rican ships. The Regent, loaded with a very valuable 
cargo, was chased by the Belvidera, when commodore 
Lewis throwing himself with eleven of his gun-boats be- 
tween them, the frigate moved off without returning the 
shot of the gun-boats. 

That brave and adventurous seaman, commodore Por- 
ter, terminated this year his glorious cruise in the Paci- 
fic. From Lima, in the neighbourhood of which he had 
chastised the pirates of the ship Nereyda, he proceeded 
to the Gallipagos, where he cruised from April, 1813| 
until October ; and in the course of that time captured 
twelve armed British whale ships, carrying in all one 
hundred and seven guns, and three hundred and two 
men. Several of these were equipped as American 
cruisers and store ships ; and the Atlantic, now called 
the Essex Junior, of twenty guns and sixty men, was as- 
signed to lieutenant Downes. The prizes, which were 
to be laid up, were convoyed by this officer to Valparaiso. 
On his return, he brought intelligence to commodore 
Porter, that a British squadron, consisting of one frigate 
and two sloops of war, and a store ship of twenty guns, 
had sailed in quest of the Essex. The commodore, ha- 
ving been almost a year at sea, with little intermission, 
found it absolutely necessary that his ship should under- 
go considerable repairs. Wi'tli this view, he steered to 



^ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 253 

the island of Nooaheevah, or Madison's Island, which he 
so named in honour of the President. Here he found a 
fine bay, and a situation in everj respect suitable to his 
wishes, the inhabitants apparently friendly. But it was 
not long before he found that his situation would be un- 
safe^ in consequence of a war which prevailed between 
the inhabitants of the neighbouring village, and those 
amon^ whom he had been received. These insisted upon 
his joining them in their wars, and threatened to drive 
him away if lie did not. The commodore was compelled, 
by a regard to his own safety, so send a party of sailors 
with the natives, who, by their assistance, defeated their 
enemies; and by the interference of the commodore, a 
peace was brought about between them. In consequence 
of this, the natives erected a village for the commodore, 
freely traded with him for provisions, and for some time 
the greatest harmony prevailed. 

His safety was again threatened by the conduct of the 
Typees, an inland tribe, one of the most warlike on the 
island, and which still continued hostile, and who were 
continually urging the friendly Indians to destroy the 
strangers. The commodore found his situation growing 
every day more critical. He therefore resolved to pur- 
sue the course necessary to ensure his safety, and which 
has always been held justifiable in our intercourse with 
uncivilized men, who are only to be restrained from vio- 
lence and injustice fay terrour. He had succeeded thus 
far by peaceable means, and by the permission of the na- 
tives, in placing his vessel in a state to be repaired ; but 
should the tribes around him become inimical, (and what 
confidence can any one repose in the faith of a savage, 
who regards only force) he might be in greater danger in 
his present situation. He was very unwilling to engage 
in a war with them ; to prevent tlie necessity, he sent 
them a present, and requested that they would reinaiij 
quiet and be at peace. This had no other ett'ect than to 
increase their insolence to the Americans, whom tliey re- 
presented as a cowardly race, or they would not have 
condescended to beg for peace. This enmity was natu- 
rally enough engendered by their jealousy of the tribes 
22 



254 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

who had the benefit of the traffick with the whites, and by 
this means obtained articles from them, according to 
their estimation, of great value. The commodore now 
discovered, that his safety depended entirely upon mak- 
ing these people feel his strength, as it was impossible 
for hi»n, in his present situation, to leave the island until 
his vessel could be repaired, and while the greater part 
of his effects were actually on shore. He therefore set 
off, at the head of thirty -five men, against these people, 
determined to give them battle, and, by shewing the efli- 
cacy of his weapons, compel them to be at peace. The 
tribes, heretofore friendly, were on the point of breaking 
out into hostilities, and were only induced to wait the 
result of this expedition, of which they were little more 
than silent spectators. The commodore had in vain en- 
deavoured to convince them of the destructive nature of 
his fire-arms, by shooting at rocks and trees ; war was 
absolutely unavoidable. But the small force with which 
he uiarched, was insufficient to make any impression. 
Their country being exceedingly mountainous and 
abounding in thickets, rendered it easy for them to es- 
cape. The commodore was, therefore, compelled to re- 
turn in a worse situation than before. To prevent the 
friendly Indians from rising, he found it necessary to in- 
form them, that he would proceed the next day with the 
greater part of his men. A large body was now marched 
across the mountains, notwithstanding the extreme diffi- 
culties of the route, and penetrated into their valley ; but 
the natives, as usual, took refuge in their inaccessible 
fastnesses. The only mode of causing them to feel the 
consequences of their conduct, was in the destruction of 
their villages; nine of them were accordingly burnt, af- 
ter which the party retreated. The Typees now gladly 
accepted terms of peace, and all the tribes on the island, 
soon after, were reconciled to each other ; a circumstance 
which tlie oldest amongst them did not recollect to have 
seen; and they vied with each other in friendship to- 
wards the whites while the commodore remained. 

rhe destruction of the Typee villages has given rise, 
on the part of the British writers, to the most scandalous 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 255 

abuse of commodore Porter and the American people, by 
which means they have endeavoured to brinjj; the acts of 
the Americans to a level with their own. The destruc- 
tion of a few wigwams covered with palm-trees, erected 
to shield th-^ inhabitants from the heats or the rains of the 
torrid zone, effected by an American officer in self-de- 
fence, and for the sake of peace, is to be viewed with hor- 
rour; while the conduct of the British government in In- 
dia, in America, and throughout the world, without any 
other motive than base rapacity, is to be passed over un- 
noticed. The destruction of the Typee villages, is the 
conduct of a bucanier, in commodore Porter; hut the 
wanton destruction of a flourishing town, inhabited by 
civilized people, on the coast of Chili, by admiral Anson, 
is an exploit to be boasted of. Can it be that the want(m 
destruction of our villages on the sea-coast, by the British 
admirals, was in retaliation for the destruction of the 
Typee villages? Accusations of this nature ill befit an 
Englishman: they too readily call to mind the innumera- 
ble acts of wicked, depraved, rapacious violence, which 
Great Britain, in common with other European powers, 
has, without scruple, committed upon the inhabitants of 
both the Indies. Even if there be grounds for the accu- 
sation, it is not for Bi itain to be the accuser. Humanity 
must undoubtedly regret that the villages of the Tj^pees 
were destroyed; but reason must acknowledge the jus- 
tice of the destruction, from the impossibility of purchas- 
ing peace and security from the savage by any other 
means. 

There is one part of commodore Porter's conduct 
which is not approved ; the taking possession of the 
island in the name of the American government; this, it 
is true, gave satisfaction to the natives, who regarded it 
as a uiere expression of friendship, or rather an adoption 
amongst the Mellickees, and extending no further; but 
this was following the example of the European states, 
who have usually considered themselves entitled, by the 
right of discovery, to territories inhabited only by unci- 
vilized men. We, however, have followed a different 
principle, and had the Typee war ensued in consequence 



Q56 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

of this act, it could find no justification ; of this there is 
no doubt; the enmity of the Indians proceeded from 
their jealousy of the tribes nearer the sea-coast, who had 
freely permitted the commodore to refit his vessel. In 
no instance has any European power acknowledged the 
right of uncivilized men to the lands occupied by them; 
they have uniformly possessed themselves by violence of 
such portions as they wanted, whereas the United StateiS 
have uniformly obtained them by purchase. 

The Essex being completely repaired, and provided 
with provisions forfour months, sailed for Valparaiso on 
the twelfth of December, in company with the Essex 
Junior. The three prizes were secured under the fort, 
left in the charge of lieutenant Gamble, of the marines, 
with orders to proceed to Valparaiso, after a certain 
time. 

It was not long after the arrival of commodore Porter 
at Valparaiso, when commodore Hillyar appeared there 
in the Phcebe. frigate, accompanied by the Cherub sloop 
of war. These vessels had been equipped for the pur- 
pose of meetins; the Essex, with picked crews, in prime 
order, and hoisted flags bearing the motto, " God and 
our country, British sailor's best rights; traitors offend 
them.-* This was in allusion to Porter's celebrated motto, 
"Free trade and sailor's rights;'* he now hoisted at his 
mizzen, "God, our country, and liberty: tyrants of- 
fend them." On entering the harbour, the British com- 
modore fell foul of the Essex, in such a situation as to be 
placed completely in the power of the latter ; the for- 
bearance of commodore Porter was acknowledged by the 
English commander, and he passed his word and honour 
to observe the same regard to the neutrality of the port. 

The British vessels soon after stood out, and cruised 
off the port about six weeks, rigorously blockading the 
Essex. Their united force amounted to eighty one guns 
and about five hundred men, about double that of the 
Essex ; but the circumstance of this force being divided 
in two ships, rendered the disparity still greater ; and 
was by no means counterbalanced by the Essex Junior 
C9mmodore Porter being prevented, by this great dispa- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. ^57 

rity of force, from engaging, made repeated attempts to 
draw the Phcebe into action singly, either by manoiuv- 
ring or sending formal challenges ; but commodore Hiil- 
yar carefully avoided the coming to action alone. The 
American commander, hearing that an additional British 
force was on its way, and having discovered that his ves- 
sel could outsail those of the British, determined to sail 
out, and, while the enemy was in chase, enable the Essex 
Junior to escape to a place of rendezvous previously ap- 
pointed. 

On the twenty-eighth of March, the wind coming on 
to blow fresh from the southward, the Essex parted her 
starboard cable, and dragged her larboard anchor to sea. 
Not a moment was lost in getting sail on the ship, as it 
was determined to seize this moment to escape. Tn en- 
deavouring to pass to the wnidward ofthe enemy, a squall 
struck the American vessel, just as she was doubling the 
point, which carried away her main-top-mast ; both ships 
immediately gave chas«, and being unable to escape m 
his crippled state, the commodore endeavpured to put 
back into the harbour ; but finding tins impracticable, he 
ran into a small bay, and anchored within pistol shot of 
the shore ; where,* from a supposition that the enemy 
would continue to respect the neutrality of the port, he 
thought himself secure. Hesoon found, however, by the 
manner in which they approached, that he was mistaken. 
With all possible despatch, therefore, he prepared his 
ship for action, and endeavoured to get a spring on his 
cable, which he could not accomplish before the enemy 
commenced the attack, at fifty-four minutes past three. 
At first, the Phoebe placed herself on his stern, and the 
Cherub on his larboard bow ; but the latter soon finding 
herself exposed to a hot fire, changed her position, aT)d 
with her consort, kept up a raking fire under his stern. 
The American being unable to bring his broadsi<le to 
bear on the enemy, his sprmg cables having been tliree 
times shot away, was obliged, therefore, to rely for de- 
fence against this tremendous attack, on three long 
twelve pounders, which he ran out of the stern ports ; 
but which were worked with such bravery and skill, as 

22* 



258 HISTORY OP THE WAR. 

in half an hour, to do so much injury to the enemy, as to 
compel them to haul oiFand repair. It was evident that 
commodore Hillyar meant to risk nothing from the dar- 
ing courage of the Americans ; all his manflsuvres were 
deliberate and wary ; his antagonist was in his power, 
and his only concern was to succeed with as little loss to 
himself as possible. The situation of the Essex was 
most vexatious to our brave countrymen ; many of them 
were already killed and wounded, and from the crippled 
state of their ship, they were unable to bring her guns to 
bear upon the enemy. — Her gallant crew were not dis- 
heartened, aroused to desperation, they expressed their 
defiance to the enemy, and their determination to hold 
out to the last. 

The enemy having repaired, now placed himself, with 
both ships, on the starboard quarter of the Essex, where 
none of her guns could be brought to bear ; the commo- 
dore saw no hope but in getting under way ; the flying- 
ib was the only sail he could set 5 this he caused to be 
oistcd, cut his cable, and ran down on both ships, with 
the intention' of laying the Phcebe on board. For a short 
time he was enal)!ed to close with the enemy, and the 
firing was tremendous ; the decks of the Essex were 
strewed with dead, and her cockpit filled with the wound- 
ed ; she had been several times on fire, and was, in fact, 
a pti feet wreck. At this momenta feeble hope arose 
that she mightyetbe saved, in consequence of the Cherub 
being compelled to haul ott on account of her crippled, 
state : she, however, kept up her fire at a distance, with 
hei long guns. '1 he Essex was unable, however, to take 
advaritage of the circumstance, as the Phcehe edged off, 
and also kept up, at a distance, a destructive fire; the 
former being totally bereft of her sails, could not bring 
her to close quarters. Commodore Porter, finding the 
greater part of his crew disabled, at last gave up all hi>pe; 
and attempted to run his vessel on shore, the wind at that 
moment favouring his design ; but it suddenly changed, 
drove her close upon the Phcebe ; exposing her to a rakJl 
ing fire. The ship was totally unmanageable, but as shcl 
drifted with her head to the enemy, commodoi^ Portejc 



i' 



HISTORV OF THE WAR. 259 

again seized a faint hope of being able to board. At this 
moment lieutenant Dovvnes came onboard, to receive 
orders, expecting that his commander would soon be a 
prisoner. His services could be of no avail in the pre- 
sent deplorable state of the Essex, and finding from the 
enemy's putting up his helm, that the last attempt at 
boarding would not succeed, Downes was directed to re- 
pair to his ship, to be prepared for defending and de- 
stroying her in case of attack. 

The slaughter on board the Essex now became horri- 
ble, the enemy continuing to rake her, while she was un- 
able to bring a single gun to bear. Still her commander 
refused to yield while a ray of hope appeared. Every 
expedient that a fertile and inventive genius could sug- 
gest, was resorted to, in the forlorn hope, that he might 
be able, by some lucky chance, to escape from the grasp 
of the foe. A hawser was bent to the sheet anchor, and 
the anchor cut from the bows to bring the ship's head 
around. This succeeded ; the broadside of the Essex 
was again brouglit to bear; and as the enemy was much 
crippled, and unable to hold his own, the commodore 
thought she might drift out of gun shot, before he disco- 
vered that the Essex had anchored ; but alas! this last 
ex|jedient failed; the hawser parted, and with it went 
the last lingering hope of the Essex. At this moment 
her situation was awful beyond description. She was on 
fire both before and aft, the flames were bursting up her 
hatchway, a quantity of powder exploded below, and 
■word was given that the fire was near her magaziae. 
Thus surrounded by horrours, without any chance of sav- 
ing his ship, he turned his attention to the saving as many 
of Ins gallant companions as he could ; the distance to 
the shore not exceeding three quarters of a mile, lie hoped 
that many of them would save themselves before the ship 
blew up. His boats being cut up, they ct)uld only hope 
to escape by swimming; by some this was effected, but 
the greater part of his generous crew resolved to stay by 
the ship, and sliare the fate of their commander. 

Tiiey now laboured to extinguish the flames, and suc- 
ceeded 5 after this, they again repaired to their guns, but 



260 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

their strength had become so much exhausted, that this 
effort was in vain. Commodore Porter summoned a con- 
sultation of the officers of the divisions, when to his asto- 
nishment only one acting lieutenant Stephen Decatur 
M*Night, appeared. The accounts from every part of the 
ship were deplorable indeed ; she was in imminent dan- 
ger of sinking, and so crowded with the wounded, that 
even her birth deck could hold no more, and several were 
killed under the surgeon's hands. In the mean time the 
enemy, at a secure distance, continued his fire; the wa- 
ter having become smooth, he struck the hull of the Essex 
at every shot. At last, despairing of saving his ship, the 
com'.iodore was compelled, at 20 minutes past six, to give 
the painful orders to strike the colours. The enemy, pro- 
bably not seeing that this had taken place, continued to 
fire for ten miiiutes after, and Porter was about to give 
orders that the colours should again be hoisted, under a 
belief that the enemy intended to give no quarters, when 
the firing ceased. The loss on board the Essex was fifty- 
eight killed, thirty -nine wounded severely, twenty -seven 
slightly, and thirty-one missing. The loss on board the 
British vessels was five killed and ten wounded; but 
they were both much cut up in their hulls and rigging; 
the Phcebe could scarcely be kept afloat until she anchor- 
in the port of Valparaiso next morning. 

Commodore Porter was paroled, and permitted to re- 
turn to the United States in the Essex Junior, which was 
converted into a cartel for the purpose. On arriving off 
the portol New-York, the vessel was detained by the Sa- 
turn razee, and to the disgrace of the British navy, al- 
ready dishonoured by the base attack upon this gallant 
officer, he was compelled to give up his parole, and de- 
clare himself a prisoner of war, and as such he informed 
the British officer that he would attempt his escape. In 
consequence of this threat, the Essex Junior was ordered 
to remain under the lee of the Saturn; but the next morn- : 
ing commodore Porter put off* in his boat, though thirty: 
miles from shore, and notwithstanding the pursuit by i 
those of the Saturn, arrived safely in New-York. Herei 
he was received with open arms by his countrymen j, the 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 261 

anost unbounded demonstrations of joy prevailed wher- 
ever he appeared, and certainly his services to his coun- 
try justly claimed its gratitude and esteem. 

Perhaps a more dreadful example of determined un- 
conquerable courage, was never exhibited than in the de- 
fence of the Essex : to an American, no victory can af- 
ford more pleasing and proud recollection; to our ene- 
my it cannot be remembered without shame, as gained 
by unmanliness in the first place, and in the next by vio- 
lating neutral nights. May no victory crown my coun- 
try thus unfairly won. It is pleasing to see the sponta- 
neous expression of human feeling in favour of the weak, 
when contending against superiour and lawless force. 
Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso covered the 
neiglibouring heights, as spectators of the conflict. 
Touclied with the forlorn situation of the Essex, and fill- 
ed with admiration at the unflagging spirit, and perse- 
vering bravery other commander and crew, a generous 
anxiety animated the multitude for their fate ; bursts of 
delight arose when, by any vicissitude of battle or prompt 
expedient, a chang« seemed to turn up in their favour; 
and the eager spectators were seen to wring their hands, 
and to utter groans of sympathy, when the transient 
hope was defeated, and the gallant little frigate once 
more become the object of unresisting slaughter. 

During the third year, every naval combat, without a 
single exception, where there was any thing like an equa- 
lity of force, terminated in favour of the Americans. 
The sloop of war Peacock, launched in October, per- 
formed a cruize during the winter, and on her return, 
was chased into St. Mary*s. She soon after put to sea 
again, and on the twenty -ninth of April, discovered the 
brig of war Epervier, captain Wales, having several ves- 
sels under convoy. Captain Warrington engaged the 
Epervier, while the others were making their escape. 
At the first broadside, the foreyard of the Peacock was 
totally disabled by two round shot in the starboard quar- 
ter. By tl ss, she was deprived of the use of her fore and 
fore-topsail, and was obliged to keep al(»of during the re= 
mainder of the action, which lasted lortj-twu minutes. 



262 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

In this time, she received considerable damage in her 
rigging, but her hull was not at all injured. The Eper- 
vier struck, having five feet water in her hold, her top- 
mast over the side, her main boom shot awaj, her fore- 
mast cut nearly in two, her fore rigging and stays shot 
away, her hull pierced by forty -five shot, twenty of which 
were within a foot of her water line. Eleven of her crew 
were killed, and her first lieutenant and fourteen men 
wounded. She was immediately taken possession of by 
lieutenant Nicholson, <first officer of the Peacock, who 
with lieutenant Vorhees, of the same sliip, had been al- 
ready distinguished in another naval action. The sum 
of one hundred and eighteen thousand dollars in specie, 
was found in her, and transferred to the Peacock. Cap- 
tain Warrington immediately repaired, with his prize, to 
one of the southern ports. The day following the cap- 
tain discovered two frigates in chase ; at the suggestion 
of lieutenant Nichalson, he took all the prisoners on 
board the Peacock, a>.d leaving a sufficient number on 
board the Epervier for the purpose of navigating her, he 
directed her to seek the nearest port. By skilful sea- 
manship the captain succeeded in escaping from the ene 
my*s ships, and reached Savannah, where he found his 
prize. Lieutenant Nicholson, by his good management 
had brought her in, after encountering very great diffi 
culties. 

The new sloop of war Wasp, captain Blakely, sailec 
from Portsmouth on the first of May, and after capturing 
seven merchantmen, fell in with the British brig of wai 
the Reindeer, captain Manners, which she captured af 
ter an action of eighteen minutes. On the sixth of July 
being in chase of two vessels, he discovered the Reindeer 
and immediately altered his course, and hauled by th 
wind in chase of her. At fifteen minutes past one, cap 
tain Blakely prepared for action; but it was not befor 
fifteen minutes after three, in consequence of their ma 
noiuvring, and the endeavours of the Reindeer to escape 
that they approached sufficiently near to engage. Seve ' 
ral guns were fired from the Wasp before her antagonist 
could bring her guns to bear j her helm was then put aletf ' 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 26S 

and at twenty-six minutes after three, captain Blakely 
commenced the action v/ith his after carronades on the 
starboard side, and fired in succession. Shortly after, 
the larboard bow coming in contact with the VVasp, cap- 
tain Manners f^ave orders to board, but the attempt was 
gallantly repulsed by the crew of the Wasp, and the ene- 
my M'as several times repelled : at forty-four minutes 
past three, orders were g;iven to board in turn. Throw- 
ing themselves with promptitude upon her deck, they 
succeeded in the execution of their orders; and at forty- 
five minutes past three, the ilag of the enemy's ship came 
down. She was almost cut to pieces, and half her 
crew were killed and wounded. The loss of the Wasp 
was five killed and twenty -one wounded ; among the lat- 
ter, midshipmen Langdon and Toscan; both of whom 
expired some days after. The Reindeer having been 
found altogether unmanageable, was blown up; and cap- 
tain Blakely steered for L'Orient to provide for the 
jvounded of both crews. 

After leaving L'Orient, and capturing two valuable 
British merchantmen, captain Blakely fell in with a fleet 
)f ten sail, under convoy of the Armada seventy-four, 
md a bomb ship. He stood for them, and succeeded in 
cutting out of the squadron a brig laden with brass and 
I ron cannon, and military stores, from Gibraltar; after 
aking out the prisoners and setting her on fire, he en- 
ileavoured to cut out another, but was chased oft' by the 
eventy-four. In the evening, at half past six, he de- 
^Jjcried two vessels, one on his starboard, and one on his 
j^farboard bow, and hauled for that which was farthest to 
vindward. At seven she was discovered to be a brig of 
jrar, and at twenty -nine minutes past nine she was under 
he lee bow of the Wasp. An action soon after com- 
(lenced, which lasted until ten o'clock, when captain 
Jsiakely, supposing his antagonist to be silenced, ceased 
iring, and demanded if he had surrendered. No an- 
swer being returned, he commenced firing; and the ene- 
jjiy returned broadside for broadside for twelve minutes, 
■j ^hen, perceiving that the two last were not returned, he 
jjp ailed again, and was informed that she was sinking. 



2€4 HISTORY OF TH^ WAR. 

and that her commander had struck. Before the Wasp's 
boats could be lowered, a second brig of war was disco- 
vered ; the crew vvere instantly sent to their quarters, 
and the Wasp was standing to for the' approach of the 
stranger, when two other brigs appeared : he now made 
sail, and endeavoured to draw the first after him, bufr 
without effect. The name of the prize has since been as- 
certained to have been the Avon, captain Arbuthnot, of 
the same force as the Reindeer. She sunk immediately 
after the last man had been taken out of her. She had 
eight killed and thircj-one wounded, including her cap- 
tain and several other officers. 

The Wasp soon repaired her damage, and continued 
on her cruize. On the twenty-first of September, she 
captured, off' the Madeiras., her thirteenth prize, the Bri- 
tish brig Atalanta, eight guns, and the only one she sent 
into port. The return of this vessel, after her hrilliant 
cruize, was for a long time fondl, looked for by our 
country ; but all hope has at last vanished of ever seeing 
her again. There is but little doubt that the brave com- 
mander and his gallant crew have found a common grave 
in the waste of ocean; but they will always live in the 
fond gratitude and recollection of their country. 

The blockade of commodore Decatur's squadron at 
New-London, having been continued until after the sea- 
son had passed, in which there existed any prospect of 
escape, the ships were ordered up the river, and disman- 
tled, while the commodore with his crew were transferred 
to the President, then at New-York. A cruise was con 
templated in conjunction with the Peacock, the Hornet, 
and the Tom Bowline store-ship. The commodore, 
thinking it more safe to venture out singly, appointed a 
place of rendezvous, and ordered the other vessels to 
follow. In consequence of the negligence of the pilot, 
the President struck upon the bar, and remained therf 
thumping for two hours, by which her ballast was de 
ranged, and her trim for sailing entirely lost. The course 
of the wind preventing him from returning into port, 1j( 
put to sea, trusting to the excellence of the vessel. A 
daylight he fell in with a British squadron, consisting q 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 265 

the Endymion, Tenedos and Pomone frigates, and the 
Majestic razee. In spite of every exertion they gained 
upon him ; the foremost, the Endymion, got close under 
liis quarters, and commenced firing. The commodore 
determined to bear up and engage her, with the intention 
of carrying her by boarding, and afterwards escaping in 
her, and abandoning his own ship. In this he was pre- 
vented by tj^e manceuvring of the enemy, who protracted 
the engagement for two hours, until the rest of the squa- 
dron were fast gaining upon them. He now assailed the 
Endymion, and in a short time completely silenced her, 
leaving her a wreck. The President was also considera- 
bly damaged, having lost twenty-five in killed and 
wounded; among the former, lieutenants Bahit and 
Hamilton, and acting lieutenant Howell ; among the lat- 
ter, the commodore himself, and midshipman Dale, who 
I afterwards died. On the approach of the squadron, the 
gallant commodore, unwilling to sacrifice the lives of his 
men in a useless contest, on receiving the fire of the, 
nearest frigate surrendered. On this occasion we can- 
not pass in silence the dishonourable conduct of the i3ri- 
tish officers of the navy, where such ought least to have 
been expected. The generous and heroick character of 
Decatur is acknowledged wherever the American flag is 
known, and requires no testimony in its support, for the 
British themselves have often declared their admiration 
of this chivalrous officer. The commodore was taken on 
board the Endymion, for the purpose of acting tiie miser- 
able farce of surrendering his sword to the officer of a 
frigate of equal size, but which would have fallen into 
the hands of the commodore, hut for the approach of the 
squadron. Decatur indignantly refused to give up his 
sword to any one but the commander of the squadron* 
*Another artifice was actually resorted to, in order to sa- 
tisfy the good people of England that the President vvas 
a seventy-four in disguise ; she was lightened, and laid in 
dock along side of an old seventy -four, diminished to ap- 
pearance by being deeply laden. Thus it seems a Bri- 
tish frigate had captured an American seventy-four j tlie 
ji3 



266 HiSTORY OF THE WAR. 

naval superiority of Great Britain was therefore no lon- 
ger to be doubted. 

Not the least amongst the exploits of our naval heroes, 
was the capture of two of the enemy's ships of war by 
the Constitution, captain Stewart. Having sailed on a 
cruize, he discovered t\yo ships, one of which bore up for 
the Constitution, but soou after changed her course, to 
join her consort. The Constitution gave chase to both, 
and at six P. M. raRged ahead of the sternmist, brought 
her on the quarter, her consort on the bow, and opened a 
broadside, which was immediately returned. An ex- 
ciiange of broadsides continued until both ships were en- 
veloped in smoke, upon t!ie clearing away of which, 
the Constitution finding herself abreast of the headmost 
ship, captain Stewart ordered both sides to be manned, 
backed topsails, and dropped into his first position. The 
ship on the bow backed sails also. The Constitution's 
broadsides were then fired from the larboard battery, and 
i n a few moments the ship on the bow, perceiving her er- 
rour n getting sternboard, filled away with the intention 
of tacking athwart the bows of the Constitution, while 
the other fell off* entirely unmanageable. The Constitu- 
tion then filled away in pursuit of the former, and com- 
ing within a hundred yards, gave her several raking 
broadsides, and so crippled her that no further appre- 
hensions were entertained of her being able to escape 5 
the captain therefore returned to the first, which imme- 
diately stF'uck. Possession was then taken of her by lieu- 
tenant Hoffman, and proved to be the frigate Cyane, cap- 
tain Gordon Falcon, of thirty -four guns. Captain Stew- 
art then steered in pursuit of the other vessel, and after 
a short resistance, in which she suffered considerably, 
she struck, with five; feet water in her hold. She proved 
to be the sloop of war Levant, of eighteen thirty-two 
pound carronades. The loss on board the two ships 
amounted to about eighty in killed and wounded ; on 
board the Constitution there were four killed and eleven 
wounded ; but the ship received a very trifling injury. 
On the tenth of March, captain Stewart entered the har- 
bour of port Praya, with his prizes, and on the eleventh 



HISTORY OF TfJE WAR. 267 

a British squadron of two sixty gun ships and a frigate, 
appeared off the entrance of the harbour; captain Stew- 
art, having no faith in his security, in this neutral port, 
made sail with his prize the Cyane, and though closely 
pursued, had the good fortune to escape into the United 
States. The Levant was recaptured in the Portuj^uese 
port, in contempt of the neutral state. These are^icts of 
injustice, in which no nation can ever prosper. ' 

The Peacock, Hornet, and Tom Bowline, left New- 
York a few days after the President, without having re- 
ceived information of her capture. On the twenty-third 
of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, the 
Hornet parted company, and directed her course to Tris- 
tan d'Acuna, tiie place of rendezvous. On the twenty- 
third of March, she d'.^scried the British brig Penguin, 
captain Dickenson, of eighteen guns, and a twelve pound 
carronade, to the southward and eastward of the island. 
Captain Biddle hove to, while the Penguin bore down : 
at forty minutes past one, the British vessel commenced 
the engagement. The firing was hotly ke[)t up for fifteen 
minutes, the Penguin gratlually nearing the Hornet witfi 
the intention to board, her captain having given orders 
for this purpose, but was killed by a grape shot : her lieu- 
tenant then bore her up, and running her bowsprit be- 
tween the main and niizzen rigging of the Hornet, gave 
orders to board : his men, however, perceiving the crew 
of the Hornet ready to receive them, refused to follow 
him. At this motnent the heavy swell of the sea lifted 
the Hornet alieacl, and the enemy's bowsprit carried 
away her mizzen shrouds and spanker boom, and the 
Penguin hung upon the Hornet's quarter, with the loss 
of her foremast and bowsprit. Her commander then 
called out that he had surrendered, and captain Biddle 
ordered his men to cease firing. At this moment an offi- 
cer of the Horn^ called to captain Biddle, that a man 
was taking aim at him in the enemy's shrouds ; l^e had 
scarcely changed his position, when a musket ball struck 
him in the neck, and wounded him severely. Two ma- 
rines immediately levelled their pieces at the wretch, 
and killed him before he brought his gun from his shoul- 



26$ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

der. The Penguin had by that time ^ot clear of the 
Hornet, and the latter wore round to give the enemy a 
fresh broadside, when they cried out a second time that 
they had surrendered. It was with great difficulty that 
captain Biddle could restrain his crew, who were exas- 
perated at the conduct of the enemy. In twenty-two 
rninut^s after the commencement of the action, she was 
taken possession of by lieutenant Mayo, of the Hornet. 
'I'he Penguin was so much injured^ that captain Biddle 
determined on taking out her crew, and scuttling her; 
and afterwards sent ott' his prisoners by the Tom Bow- 
line, which by this time had joined him with the Peacock. 
The enemy lost fourteen in killed and and twenty-eight 
wounded ; the Hornet one killed and eleven wounded ; 
among the latter, her lieutenant, Connor, dangerously. 

Captain Biddle, being compelied to part from the Pea- 
cock, by the appearance of a British ship of the line, after 
being closely chased for several days, effected his escape 
into St. Salvador, where the news of peace soon after ar- 
rived. The capture of the Cyane, the Levant, and the 
Penguin, took place before the expiration of the time 
limited by the second article of the treaty of peace. 

Tiie exploits of the privateers continued to rival those 
of our national vessels. In one instance the enemy was! 
compelled to pay dearly for his disregard of the sanctuary 
of a neutral port. The privateer Armstrong lay at an- 
chor in the harbour of Fayal, when a British squadron, 
consisting of the Carnation, the Plantagenet, and the 
Rota, hove in sight. Captani Reid, of the privateer, dis-^ 
covering by the light of the moon that the enemy had put 
out his barges, and was preparing to attack him, cleared 
for action, and moved near the shore. Four boats filled 
with men approached, and making no answer on being 
hailed, a fire was opened upon them, v»'hich was return^ 
ed, but they soon called out for quarters, and were per- 
mitted to haul off. They then prepared for a more for-i 
midable attack ; the privateer was now anchored withinj 
a cable's length of the shore, and within pistol shot of the| 
castle The next day they sent a fleet of boats, support- 
ed by the Carnation, which stood before the harbour, tc( 

i; 

i 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 269 

prevent the escape of the privateer. At midnight the 
boats approached a second time, to the number of twelve 
or fourteen, manned with several hundred men. They 
were suffered to approach along^side of the privateer, and 
without waiting an attack, tlipy were assailed mth such 
astonishing fury, that in forty minutes scarcely a man of 
them was left alive. During these attacks the shores 
were lined with the inhabitants, who, from the brightness 
of the moon, had a full view of the scene. The gover- 
nour, with the first people of the place, stood by and saw 
the whole affair. After the second attack, the governour 
sent a note to the commander of the Plantagenet, captain 
Lloyd, requesting him to desist, but was answered, that 
le was determined to have the privateer at the risk of 
knocking down the town. The American consul having- 
communicated this information to captain Reid, he or- 
lered his crew to save their effects as fast as possible, 
md to carry the dead and wounded on shore. At day- 
ht the Carnation stood close to the Armstrong, and 
soinmenced a heavy fire ; iut being considerably cut up 
ty the privateer, she hauled oft' to repair. Captain Keid 
low thinking it useless to protract the contest, on her re- 
ppearance, scuttled his vessel and escaped to shore. 
Hie British loss amounted to the astonishing number of 
me hundred and twenty killed, and one hundred and 
hirty wounded : that of the Americans was only two 
illed and seven wounded. Several houses in the town 
/ere destroyed, and some of the inhabitants wounded. 



CHAPTER XVT. 

lovements of the army on the Niagara frontier- Capture of 
Fort Erie — Battle of Chippewa— Death of g-eneral Swift — Bat- 
tle of Niagara — Siege of Fort Erie — Assault upon Fort Erie- 
Sortie upon the British works — Affairs of the West — Expedi- 
tion against Michilimackinack. 

♦ ROM reviewing the events of the war on the ocean, we 
iturn to the war on the northern frontier. Not to be 
23# 



270 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

^vithout a plan of campaign, although experience had al- 
ready shown how little of the cabinet plans could be car- 
ried into execution, where they depended upon so many 
contingencies, not susceptible of calculation, the follow- 
ing was adopted. Colonel Croghan, with the assistance 
of commodore Sinclair, was to proceed against the Bri- 
tish on the Upper Lakes, with a view of recovering the 
American posts of Michilimackinac and St. Joseph. The 
American army, under general Brown, was to cross the 
Niagara and take possession of Burlington heights ; and 
afterwards, in conjunction with commodore Chauncey, 
proceed to attack the British posts on the Peninsula. 
General Izard, commanding the Northern army, was to 
push a number of armed boats into the St. Lawrence, so 
as to command the Rapids, and cut off the communica- 
tion between Montreal and Kingston, A strong post, 
garrisoned with fifteen hundred men, would also co-ope- 
rate in this object. Batteries were also to be thrown up 
for the purpose of protecting the American fleet on Lake 
Champlain, and to prevent that of the British from enter- 
ing it. Some of these arrangements had been antici-i 
pated; but the greater part was controlled by unforeseeia 
circumstances. 

The spring passed away before general Brown was in 
a condition to attempt any thing against the British posts 
on the opposite side of the river; even Fort Niagara still 
remained in their hands. He had, however, been assidu 
ously occupied, with his gallant officers, general Scott 
and general Ripley, in disciplining his troops, and in col 
Iccting his force. By the beginning of July, this consist 
ed of two brigades of regulars, and a brigade of New< 
York volunteers, under generals Porter and Swift, toge- 
ther with a few Indians* In the mean time the force ol 
the enemy, under general Drummond, had been greatly 
increased, by the addition of a number of vete-an regi« 
Bients, which, since the pacification of Europe, Greal 
Britain had been enabled to send to this country, 

The first step to be taken, with a view to any future 
operations against Canada, and to recover the possessiol 
pf Niagara, it was thought should be against Fort Erie 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 271 

for being once possessed of this post, it was supposed the 
enemy would evacuate the American side, and it was ex- 
pected that this garrison would be carried with more ease 
than the other, from the circumstance of an attack being 
less expected. For Erie was at that time commanded 
by captain Buck, with about one hundred and seventy 
men. The two brigades of regulars embarked on the 
morning of the third of July ; general Scott with the first, 
and a detachment of artillery under major Hindman, 
crossed to the Canada shore, below Fort Erie ; and gene- 
ral Ripley, with the second brigade, above. The garrison 
was completely taken by surprise, and surrounded before 
the movements of the assailants were discovered, and 
was compelled to surrender after firing a few shot. 

It was next resolved to proceed immediately and at- 
tack major general Riall, who at that time occupied an 
intrenched camp at Chippewa; having first made ar- 
rangements for the defence of the fort, which was t en- 
trusted to lieutenant M'Donough, and for securing the 
rear of the army. 

On the morning of the fourth, general Scott advanced 
with his brigade, and captain Tovvson's artillery, and was 
followed in the course of the day by general Ripley, and 
the field artillery under major Hindman, together with 
general Porter's volunteers. The army was then drawn 
up in a regular order to receive the enemy, on the right of 
Street's creek, within two miles of the camp. The. first 
brigade had encountered the advance corps, which re- 
treated, but not until after destroying the bridge. Cap- 
tain Crooker had crossed the stream some distance above, 
and, not conscious of his situation, was in pursuit of the 
British, who now turned upon and surrounded him ; but 
he defended himself in so gallant a manner, that he was 
enabled to keep off the enemy, until captains Hull and 
Harrison, and lieutenant Randolph, came to his relief. 

The army remained in this position until the next day, 
when early in the morning, the British commenced an 
attack upon the picket guards. A company, commanded 
by captain Treat, was suddenly fired upon by a party 
concealed in the high grass j one majj. fell, and the va(i» 



zn HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

guard broke and retreated. The exertions of the captain 
to rally his men was mistaken for an act of cowardice, 
and he was stripped of his command. Being resolved to 
do away the imputation, he requested to engage in the 
approaching battle as a pri-vate, and was accordingly di- 
rected to lead a platoon. He was afterwards tried and 
honourably acquitted. The necessity of strict discipline, 
at such a moment, cannot be disputed. These assaults 
continued tbroughout the greater part of the day. Gene- 
ral! Rial), prcceiving that an engagement was unavoida- 
ble, resolved to strike the first blow ; he therefore issued 
from his encampment, with his whole force, and soon 
appeared on the left bank of Street's creek ; sending his 
light troops to the left of the American camp, for the 
purpose of turning their flank ; this was frustiated by the 
volunteers, who after a sharp conflict compi^led tkeni to 
retire ; but in pursuing on the Chippewa road, they came 
suddenly in contact with the main body of the British. 
The volunteers were now severely pressed by troops 
greatly superiour in numbers and discipline. General 
Brown perceiving this, ordered Scott's brigade and 
Towson's artillery to advance, and draw the enemy int© 
action on the plains of Chippewa. This was effected im- 
mediately on crossing the bridge. 

Major Jessupa a gallant young officer, who commanded 
the third battalion, was ordered to turn the right flank 
of the British, which rested on a wood to the left ; whilst 
warmly engaged in this service, he was compelled to de- 
tach captain Ketchum, to keep a superiour detachment 
in check ; the major, having cleared his front, moved to 
th<' relief of his captain, who had maintained an unequal 
contest against superiour numbers. His object was not 
accomplished here until after a severe struggle ; being at 
length closely pressed in front and in flank, he delibe- 
rately gave orders to his men to support arms and ad- 
vance, under a dreadful fire, until he gained a position 
of more security, whence he compelled the enemy to re- 
tire. This adirurable coolness and intrepidity in hisi 
corps, was wfn thy of veterans, and proved the great pro- 
gress the Americans had made in discipliae. The Bri- 



I 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. $75 

tish right flank soon after began to fall back, while the 
Americans pressed them closely. The battalion on the 
American right, under major Leavenworth, was not only 
engaged with the British infantry, but often exposed to 
the fire of their batteries. One of his officers, captain 
Harrison, had his leg shot off by a cannon ball: but he 
considered the contest so doubtful, that he would not 
suffer himself to be taken from the spot, and continued 
to perform his duty with astonishing fortitude until the 
action ceased. After the lapse of an hour from the time 
the action became general, captain Towson having com- 
pletely silenced the enemy^s most powerful battery, now 
turned upon the infantry, then much exposed to an 
oblique discharge of nvdjor M'Neill*s musketry ; the 
enemy was at this moment advancing to charge, but the 
concentrated fire which poured upon them, and the ap- 
parent issue on their right flank with major Jessup, com- 
pelled general Riall to retire, until he reached the slop- 
ing ground which led to Chippewa, when the British fled 
in confusion to their entrenchuients. — Major Hindman 
and captain Towson pursued the enemy under the fire 
of his batteries, but which, on examination, were found 
too strong to be assailed. 

This may be considered the first regular pitched bat- 
tle, and furnished a convincing proof, that nothing but 
discipline was wanting to give to our soldiers on land, 
the same excellence which our seamen had discovered 
on the ocean. The battle was fought with great judg- 
ment and coolness on both sides, and its result, consi- 
dering the numbers engaged, was exceedingly sanguina- 
ry. The loss of the Americans in killed, wijunded and 
missing, amounted to three hundred and thirty-eight. 
Among the wounded were colonel Campbell, captains 
King, of the twenty-third. Read, of the twenty -fifth, Har- 
rison, of the forty-second ; lieutenants Palmer and Brim- 
hali, of the ninth, Barron, of the eleventh, and De Wit 
and Patchim, of the twenty -fifth. The total loss of the 
British, according to the report of general Drummond,. 
was five hundred and five, of whom forty-six were mis~ 
sing, the remainder either killed or wounded, Theiv 



S74 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

loss in officers was seven captains and sevcRteen subal- 
terns ; the marquis of Tweedale, colonels Gordon and 
Dickson, and captain Holland, aid of general Riall. Few 
occurrences since the war afforded a more lively grati- 
fication to the people. The most honourable testimonials 
were bestowed upon the principal officers concerned ; 
and the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel was conferred 
upon majors Jessup, Leavenworth, and M*Neill : and oi 
major on captains Towson, Crooker and Harrison. Se- 
veral other officers were named as having distinguished 
themselves: major Wood of the engineers, captain Har- 
ris, and lieutenant M'Donald, acquitted themselves with 
much honour. 

The defeat of Riall having been communicated to ge- 
neral Drummond, he sent a regiment to reinforce him, 
and enable him to repel any attack upon his works. Ge- 
neral Brown still remained at his encampment, deter- 
mined to dislodge the British ; as the most effectual mode 
he detached general Ripley to open a road to the Chip 
pewa river, at a point three miles above the enemy's 
camp, and to construct a bridge for the purpose of at 
tacking the enemy on his right flank and front. Thia 
was executed with so mucli secrecy, that the bridge was 
nearly completed before it was discovered, when genera] 
Riall ordered his artillery to advance and prevent the 
Americans from completing their works ; but the artillerj 
of general Ripley compelled the British to retire. Ge- 
neral Riall soon after abandoned his works, which were 
occupied by general Brown that evening. The enemj 
fell back to Queenstown, and afterwards to ten miU 
creek. • 

The army encamped at Queenstown, and previous tc 
any further movement, general Swift, at hjs own request 
was detached with about one hundred and twenty men 
to reconnoitre the enemy's works. He surprised an out 
post, and took prisoners a corporal and his guard 5 ont 
of these, after having asked and received quarters, sud 
denly raised his piece, and gave the general a morta 
wound. The general instantly killed the assassin, ant 1 
oii the approach of a party, brought by the firing of tli( 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. £75 

soldier, he continued to fight at the head of his detach- 
ment, regardless of his wound, until the enemy was re- 
pulsed. This gallant officer died soon after he was 
brought to camp, sincerely regretted, and was interred 
with all the honours the army could bestow. He had 
been a distinguished soldier of the revolution. 

The question as to what step was next to be taken, was 
submitted by general Brown to a council of war ; whether 
to follow up the enemy rapidly, and annihilate his force, 
or first to attack Niagara andT^'ort George. The latter 
was resolved upon. Preparatory to this, general Ripley 
md general Porter were ordered to reconno'rtre the fort; 
the one along the Niagara, the other by the way of St. 
Davicf's, for the purpose of ascertaining their respective 
situations, and obtaining the information necessary for 
;he attack. This service was successfully performed, 
filthough much exposed to the fire of the garrison, and as- 
sailed by skirmishing parties. The plan, however, was 
Abandoned, in consequence, as was alleged by general 
|3rown, of not being able to obtain the co-operation of 
phauncey's fleet, the commodore being at this time ex- 
remely ill ; the general, therefore, prepared to pursue 
he British army to Burlington heights; and, with a view 
this, on the twenty -fourth he fell down to the junction 
f the Chippewa with the Niagara. 

Lieutenant general Drummond, mortified that his vete- 
an troops should have been beaten, by what he consider- 
e- d raw Americans, was anxious for an opportunity of 
reetrieving his credit. He had collected every regiment 
ivrom Burlington and York, and the lake being free, the 
leJritish commodore was able to transport troops from 
Kingston, Fort George, and even Prescott. General 
totiall took post at Queenstown, immediately after it was 
stjpandoned by the Americans, who had fallen back to 
»o|hippewa ; general Drummond crossed a strong detach- 
ment to threaten the town of Schlosser, which contained 
ie supplies of general Brown, together with his sick 
idtid wounded; this was done with the expectation of in- 
ducing general Brown to divide his force ; an advanced 
ndarty was at the same time pushed forrvvard on the Nia- 
ilie 



«ra HISTORY OF THE WAIl. 

gara road. With a view of drawing off the enemy from 
his attempt on the village across. the river, general Scott 
was ordered to move towards Queenstown, with his bri- 
gade, seven hundred strong, with Towson's artillery, the 
dragoons and the mounted men ; with orders to seport if 
the enemy appeared, and call for assistance. At four 
«'clock the brigade moved from the camp, and after pro^ 
ceeding about two miles and an half from the Chippewa, 
and within a short distance of the cataracts of Niagara, 
the enemy was discovered to occupy an eminence near 
Lundy's-lane, a position of great strength, 'selected by 
general Riali, where he had planted a most formidable 
battery of nine pieces of artillery, two of which were 
brass twenty -four pounders. On reaching a narrow strip 
©f woods, which intervened between them and the British 
line, captains Harris and Pentland, whose companies 
formed a part of the advance, were first fired on, and en 
gaged the enemy, who retreated for the purpose of draw 
ing the American column to the situation at Lundy*s 
lane. General Scott resolutely pressed forward, first 
despatching major Jones with the intelligence to the coini 
mander in chief. He had no sooner cleared the wood 
and formed in line on a plain finely adapted to militar;) 
manoeuvres, than a tremendous cannonade commencei 
from the enemy's batteries, which was returned by cap 
tain Towson, but without being able to bring his pieces t( 
bear on the eminence. The action was continued forai 
hour, against a force three times that of the Americai j, 
brigade, on the ground to the left of Queenstown road j^ 
The nth and 22d having expended their ammunition U, 
colonel Brady and lieutenant colonel McNeill being botl jjj 
severely wounded, and nearly all the other officers eithe ^j^ 
killed or wounded, both regiments were withdrawn friw f^j 
action. Lieutenant Crawford, lieutenant adjutant San ^^ 
yer, and a few others, attached themselves to the 9th, i f„| 
such stations as were assigned them. This regiment, ue j^^ 
der its gallant leader lieutenant colonel Leavenwortl jfj 
was now obliged to maintain 'the whole brunt of the a( 
tion, when orders were given to advance and charge o 
the heights, and, with the other regiments, break the em 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S.77 

ttiy's line. But general Scott, on receivino; information 
of the shattered condition of the eleventh and twenty-se- 
cond, countermanded his order. Colonel Jessup, at the 
commencement of the action, had been detached with the 
twenty -fifth, to attack the left of the enemy's line. 

The British now pressed forward on the 9th, which 
with wonderful firmness withstood the attack of their 
overwhelming numbers ; but reduced at length to nearly 
one half, and being compelled at every moment to repel 
fresh charges of the British, colonel Leavenworth des- 
patched a messenger to General Scott, to communicate 
its condition!. The general rode up in person, roused 
the flagging spirits of his brave men with the pleasing in- 
telligence that reinforcements were expected every mo- 
ment, and besought them to hold their ground. Lieu- 
tenant Riddle, already well known as a reconnoitring of- 
ficer, was the first to come to the assistance of his fellow 
soldiers, having been drawn to the place by the sound of 
the cannon, while out with a scouting party. The same 
circumstances induced general Brown to proceed rapidly 
to the scene of action, giving orders to general Ripley to 
follow with the second brigade. On his way he was met 
hy major Jones, and from his information, he was induced 
to order up general Porter, with the volunteer.s together 
•^vitli the artillery. 

The situation of the brigade became every moment 
more critical. They had repulsed every attack of the 
enemy with desperate courage; but their strength must 
soon fail, when continually obliged to engage a fresh line. 
Fortunately, general Riall, from the obstinacy of the re- 
sistance, had by this time over-rated their force, and had 
despatched a messenger to general Drummond for rein- 
forcements ; his numbers engaged thus far having been 
more than double the American. About this time an aw- 
ful pause ensued between the two armies ; for a time no 
sound broke upon the stillness of the night, but the groans 
of the wounded, mingling with the distant din of the ca- 
taract of iSiagara. The shattered regiments were con- 
solidated into one brigade, and placed as a reserve under 
colonel Brady, who, though severely wounded, A'eAised 
24 



378 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

to quit the field. The silence was once more interrupt- 
ed by the arrival of general Ripley's brigade, major 
Hindman's artillery, afid general Porter's volunteers, 
and at the same time of general Drummond with rein- 
forcements. 

In the mean time, that accomplished young officer, ma- 
jor Jessup, who had been ordered in the early part of the 
action, to fake post on the right, had succeeded, during 
the engagement, after encountering great difficulty, in 
turning the left flank of the enemy. At the present mo- 
ment, taking advantage of the darkness of the night and 
the incaution of the enemy, he threw his regiment in tlie 
rear of their reserve, and surprising one detachment after 
another, made prisoners of so many of their officers and 
men, that his progress was greatly impeded. The laws 
of war would have justified him in putting them to death ; 
*'but the laurel, in his opinion, was most glorious when 
entwined by the hand of mercy ;" he therefore spared 
them, under circumstances where they certainly would 
not have spared him. One of his officers, capt. Ketchum, 
had the good fortune to make prisoner of general Riall, 
and of the aid of general Drummond ; the latter a most 
fortunate circumstance, as it prevented the concentra- 
tion of the British force, contemplated by that officer, be- 
fore the Americans were prepared for his reception. Af- 
ter disposing of his prisoners, colonel Jessup felt his way 
to the place where the hottest fire was kept up on the bri- 
gade to which he belonged, and drew up his regiment be- 
hind a fence, on the side of the Queenstown road, but in 
the rear of a party of British infantry, drawn upon the 
opposite side of the same road :> he suddenly gave them a 
destructive fire, on which they broke and fied. '*The 
major," says general Brown, "shewed himself to his 
own army, in a blaze of fire.-' He was ordered to form ■ 
on the right of the second brigade. 

General Ripley's brigade had by tliis time been formed 
for action, when orders were given for it to advance to 
the support of general Scott, against whom afire was now 
directed which he could not long withstand. Geneial 
Kipley, witli the quick discernment which characterises 



1 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 279 

the real commander, seeing that too mucii time would 
be lo8tbefo?'e he could make his way through the skirt ot* 
woods, in the darkness of the night, decided at once upon 
his own responsibility, to a3opt the only measure fronv 
which he saw a hope ; and which being made known to 
the commander in chief, he instantly sanctioned. The 
enemy's artillery occupied a hill which was the I'oy to 
the whole position, and it would he in vain to hope for 
victory while they were permitted to retain it. Address- 
ing himself to colonel Miller, he inquired whether he 
could storm the hatteries at the head of the twenty -ftrst, 
while he would himself support him with theyoun2;er re- 
giment, the twenty-third. To this the wary, but intrepid 
veteran replied, in an unaffected phrase, I will try sir ; 
words, which were afterwards given as the motto of his 
regiment. The twenty-third was formed in close co- 
lumn, under its commander, major M'Farland, and the 
first regiment, under colonel Nicholas, was left to keep 
the infantry in check. The two regiments moved on to 
one of the most perilous charges ever attempted ; the 
whole of the artillery opened upon them as they advanc- 
ed, supported by a powerful line of infantry. The 
twenty *lirst advanced steadily to its purpose ; the twen- 
ty-third faultered on receiving the deadly fire of the ene- 
my; but was soon rallied by the persenal exertions of ge- 
neral Ripley. When within a hundred yards of t'ae sum- 
mit, they received another dreadful discharge, by which 
major M-Farland was killed, and the command devolved 
on major Brooks. To the amazement of the British, the 
intrepid Miller firmly advanced, until within a few paces 
of their line, when he impetuously charged upon the ar- 
tillery, which, after a short but desperate resistance, 
yielded their whole battery, and the American line was 
in a moment formed in the rear, upon the ground previ- 
ously occupied by the British infantry. In carrying the 
larger pieces, the twenty-first suffered severely ; lieute- 
nant Cilley, after an unexampled effort, fell wounded by 
the side of the piece which he took : few of the officers 
of this regiment were not either killed or wounded. By 
the united efforts of the two regiments, the British in • 



^0 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

fantry was in a short time driven down the eminence, 
out of the reach of musketry, while their own cannon was 
turned upon them. This admirable effort completely 
changed the nature of the battle; every moment was now 
directed to this point, as upon the ability to maintain the, 
height, the result entirely depended. While contending 
for the heights, the capture of general Riall had been an- 
nounced by loud huzzas, on the part of the Americaa 
troops below, which brought a shell among major Hind- 
man's corps, exploded a caison, and unfortunately killed 
the brave captain Ritchie. Major Hindman was ordered 
to bring up his corps, to post himself with his own and 
the captured cannon, to the right of Ripley's brigade, and 
between it and the twenty -fifth, while the volunteers of 
general Porter were drawn up on the right. 

The British commander, stung with rage and mortifi- 
cation at this unexampled exploit of the Am.ericans, now 
considered it absolutely essential to the credit of the Bri- 
tish arm3% and to avoid insupportable disgrace, that he 
should make a desperate effort. Having been greatly re- 
inforced, and placing his troops in the best possible order 
for the execution of his purpose, he now advanced upon 
Itpley, with a heavy and extended line, out -flanking hina 
in both extremes. The Americans stood silently await- 
ing his approach, having received orders from the gene- 
ral to reserve their fire, until it could be rendered effec- 
tive and deadly. The whole division of the British now 
advanced with a brisk step, until within twenty paces of 
the summit, when it poured in a rapid fire, and prepared 
to rush forward with the bayonet; tlie American line, be- 
ing directed by the fire of the enemy, returned it with 
deadly effect; they were thrown into confusion, but be- 
ing again rallied, furiously returned to the attack, and a 
most tremendous conflict ensued. For twenty minutes 
the action continued with violence indescribable. The * 
British line was at last compelled to yield, and to retire 
down the hill. General Porter's volunteers emulated 
the conduct of the regulars. I'he gallant major Wood, 
of the Pennsylvania corps, and colonel Dobbin, of the . 
New-York, gave examples of unshaken intrepidity. U^ 



^<^^ 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 281 

was not supposed, however, that this would be the last ef- 
fort of the British general ; the line was instantly restor- 
ed and the wounded transported to the rear. General 
Scott's brigade, during this period, had been held in re- 
serve under colonel Leavenworth, colonel Brady having 
been compelled, by the severity of his wound, to resign 
the command; the general's brigade-major, lieutenant 
Smith, and his aid, captain Worth, were both compelled 
to retire in consequence of their wounds; tliis brigade 
was now ordered to move to Lundy's-lane, with its right 
on the Niagara road. 

After the lapse of half an hour, general Drummond 
was again discovered advancing to the assault with reno- 
vated vigour. The precaution at first adopted by gene- 
ral Ripely, was again observed ; the fire of the Amei ican& 
was dreadful, and the artillery of major Hindman, serv- 
ed with great skill, would have taken away all heart on 
the part of the British for this perilous enterprise, had 
not the example been set them by the Americans. The 
British general having rallied his troops, threw himself 
with his whole weight upon the American centre ; he was 
firmly received by the gallant twenty-first, a few pla- 
toons only faultering, but which were soon restored by 
general Ripley. Finding that no impression could be 
made, the whole British line again recoiled, and fell back 
to the bottom of the hill. During the last contest, two 
gallant charges were led by general Scott in person, 
upon the enemy's left and right flanks, with his consoli- 
dated battalion; but having to oppose double lines of 
infantry, his attempts, which would have been decisive 
had they proved successful, were unavailing ; they pro- 
bably contributed, hawever, in shaking the British line. 
The general himself, .being severely wounded in these 
charges, although he had hitherto remained unhurt dur- 
ing this perd.)us combat, was compelled to quit the field, 
after uniting the battalion with the twenty -filth, and plac- 
ing them under colonel Leavenworth. 

Oiaiieartened by these repeated defeats, the British 
were on tiie point of yielding the contest, when they re- 
ceived fresli remforceiuents from Fort Niagara, which 
24* 



SM HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

revived their spirits, and induced them to make another 
and still more desperate struggle. After taking an hour 
to refresh themselves, and recovering from their fatigue, 
they advanced with a new and more extended line, and '. 
with confident hopes of being able to overpower the i 
Americans, who thus far had been denied both refresh- 
ment and repose. Our countrymen had stood to their 
arms during all this time, their canteens exhausted, and 
many almost fainting with thirst ; and from the long in- 
terval they had began to cherish hopes that the enemy 
had yielded. In this they were disappointed ; but on 
discovering the approach of the British, their courageous 
spirit returned, and they resolved never to yield the 
glorious trophies of their victory, until they could con- 
tend no longer. The British delivered their fire at the 
same distance as on the last onset, which was returned 
by the Americans with the same deadly effect ; but they 
did not fall back with the same precipitation, a fresh 
line supplied the place of the first, and the whole steadily, 
advanced. A conflict, dreadful beyond description, en- 
sued 5 the twenty-first, under its brave leader, firmly 
withstood the shock. The right and left repeatedly fell 
back, but were again rallied by the general, by colonels 
Miller, Nicholas and Jessup. At length the two lines 
closed with each other on the very summit of the hill> 
which they contested with terrifick violence at the point 
of the bayonet. Such was the obstinacy of the contest, 
tl)at many battalions, on both sides, were forced back, 
and the contending parties became mingled with each 
other. Nothing could exceed the desperation of the 
conflict at the point where the cannon was stationed. 
The enemy having forced himself into the very midst of 
major iiindman's artillery, this ofiicer was compelled to 
spike two of his pieces, and was warmly engaged across 
the carriages and gunis. General Ripley, now pressing 
upon the enemy's ilanks, compelled them to give way, 
and the centre soon following the example, the whole 
British line fled a third time, and no exertions of their 
oilicers could restrain them, until they placed themselves 
out of the reach of the musquetry and artillery. Tha,! 



HISTOHY OF THE WAR. £83 

British beinj^ now completely beaten, retired beyond the 
borders of the field, leaving their dead and wounded. 

General Brown had received two severe wounds at 
the commencement of the last charge, and was compell- 
ed to follow general Scott, leaving the command to Rip- 
ley. This officer had made repeated efforts to oStain 
the means of removing the captured artillery, but the 
horses having been killed, and no drag ropes to be pro- 
cured, it was delayed until after the last contest, when 
orders were received from general Brown, to collect the 
wounded and return to camp. The British cannon were 
therefore spiked, and the smaller pieces rolled down the 
hill by major Hindman, who returned in good order with 
his corps ; the whole reaching camp about midnight. It 
is much to be regretted that these trophies of victory 
could not have been secured, as the circumstance gave 
occasion to the British, surprising as it may seem, to 
claim the victory. To high praise they certainly were 
entitled, but to claim the merit of *' a complete defeat 
of the Americans," was outraging truth ; and to be com- 
plimented for this, ought to infuse the blush of shame 
into the cheek of an honourable soldier. The British 
force eno;aged was little short of five thousand men, in- 
cluding fifteen hundred militia and Indians; nearly a 
third greater than that of the Americans. The loss on 
either side was proportioned to the nature of this dread- 
ful and sanguinary battle; its aggregate amounted to 
one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine ; and the 
killed and wounded alone to one thousand three hundred 
and eighty-four. On the side of tiie British, one assis- 
tant adjutant-generai, one captain, three subalterns, and 
seventy-nine non-commissioned officers and privates, 
were killed ; lieutenant general Drummond, major ge- 
neral Riall, and three lieutenant-colonels, two majors. 
dight captains, twenty-two subalterns, and five hundred 
non-commissioned officers and privates, were wounded : 
the prisoners and missing, one aid-de-camp, (captain 
Luring) five captains, nine subalterns, and two hundred 
and twenty non-commissioned officers and privates 5 
making in all eight hundred and seventy-eight men. 



P.84 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

In the records of the most bloody conflicts we seldom 
meet with so great a number of officers killed and wound- 
ed. The American loss was one major, five captains, five 
subalterns, and one hundred and fifty-nine non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates, killed ; major general Brown, 
brigadier generals Scott and Porter, two aids de-camp, 
one brigade major, one colonel, four lieutenant-colonels, 
one major, seven captains, thirty-seven subalterns, and 
five hundred and fifteen non-commissioned officers and 
privates, wounded ; and one brigade major, one captain, 
six subalterns, and one hundred and two non-commis- 
sponed officers and privates, missing ; making a grand 
total of eight hundred and fifty -one, and a difference of 
twenty-seven only, betw een the contending parties. 

On arriving at the camp, the commander in chief or- 
dered general Ripley to refresh the troops and proceed to 
the ground in the morning, and to engage the enemy if 
circumstances permitted. On examining his troops, ge- 
neral Ripley found that he had but fifteen hundred men fit 
for duty ; and reconnoitring the enemy, he found them 
drawn up in their first position, presenting a formidable 
appearance ; it therefore would have been madness, with 
his men in theirpresent state, to have renewed the com- 
bat; he therefore properly declined it His conduct was 
hastily censured by general Brown, in his despatches to 
the government ; and general Ripley, unfortunately, had 
for a long time to contend with the obloquy of publick 
opmion ; it was not until lately that the full extent of 
his merit was known; it is now generally acknowledg- 
ed, that much of the praise, of the most brilliant victory 
that ever crowned our arms on the land, is due to the 
skill and valour of this officer. 

General Ripley, finding himself unable to make a stand 
against the superiour force of the British, retreated to 
Fort Erie, and anticipatmg the approach of the enemy, im- 
mediately set about extending its defences. The enemy, 
notwithstanding their pretended victory, did not think 
proper to follow up the Americans, until they liad been 
reinforced by general De Watteville, with upwards of a, 
thousand men, their whole force about five thousand. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 285 

This formidable body, appeared on the third of August, 
before a fortification which, a few days previously, had 
been considered untenable, and commenced with regular 
approaches, hopeless of being able to prevail otherwise 
than by a formal siege. The besieged, at the same time, 
laboured incessantly to complete their defences. The 
position which the American army had taken, for the pur- 
pose ofdefending itself against so great a superiority, pos- 
sessed few natural advantages, and the work called Fort 
Erie was little more than a small unfinished redoubt. It 
was situated about one hundred yards from the lake 
shore at its nearest angle, and on a plain of about fifteen 
feet of elevation. The fort could be considered as no- 
thing more than the strongest point of a fortified camp, 
for a line of works was yet to be constructed in front, 
and extending to the right and left to the lake ; the rear 
on the shore being left open. The fort itself probably 
did not occupy more than a sixth of the space taken up 
in the line of defences : the remainder could not be other- 
wise than hastily constructed, and indeed notwithstand- 
ing the slow and cautious approaches of the British, much 
of it was left incomplete until the last moment. 

About the same time a party crossed the Niagara, for 
the purpose of attacking Buffaloe, and recapturing gene- 
ral Itiall, This party, under colonel Tucker, was re- 
pulsed by major Morgan, with a detachment of two hun- 
dred and forty men, although reinforced by a regiment. 
In this affair captain Hamilton, and lieutenants Wads- 
worth and M'Intosh, were killed. 

The defences of Fort Erie were sufficiently completed, 
by the seventh, to keep at bay an enemy, who had by this 
time learned to respect our arms, and from this day, un- 
til the fourteenth, there was an almost incessant cannon- 
ade with the enemy's batteries, who were gradually gain- 
ing ground. In the frequent skirmishes which took place 
between the outposts and reconnoitring parties, the Ame- 
ricans were generally victorious; in one of them, how- 
ever, they lost major Morgan, a brave oflicer, who was 
sincerely lamented. General Gaines had arrived shortly 
j«fter the commencen^ent of tlie siege, and being the se^ 



286 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

nior officer, assumed the command. On the flight of the 
fourteenth, general Ripley, perceivinj^ a bustle in the 
British camp, conceived that an assault was about to be 
made; he despatched a messenger with this intelligences 
to general Gaines, who was already apprised of it ; dis^ 
positions were rapidly made, and the troops manifesteii 
great enthusiasm to engage the assailants. 

General Drummond had made arrangements to assail 
every part of the American fortifications at the same in 
stant ; and general Gaines, not knowing where the ene- 
my would make his attack, was prepared to meet him at 
every point. The fort and bastions were placed under 
the command of captain Williams, of the artillery: the 
buttery on the lake was assigned to captain Douglass : 
a blockhouse, near the salient bastion, was occupied by 
major Trimble; the batteries in front, under captains 
Biddle and Fanning, supported by general Porter ; and 
the whole of the artillery throughout the garrison, under 
major Kindman. The first brigade, consisting of partj 
of the 1 1th, Dth, 22nd infantry, lately commanded by ge 
neral Scott, now under colonel Aspinwall, was postec 
on the right; and general Ripley's brigade, supportec 
Towson's battery and the line, upon the left. A fev 
hours before the commencement of the assault, one o 
the enemy's shells exploded a magazine within the Ame 
rican works, which was succeeded by a loud shout fron 
the besiegers, under the belief that the magazine of t\v 
fort had blown up. The shout was returned by the Ame 
licans. and captain Williams, amid the smoke of the ex 
plosion, renewed the contest by an animated roar of hi 
heavy guns. 

A-t half after two in the morning, the approach of th 
enemy's right column, v»hich was one thousand thre 
hundred strong, was distinctly heard on the left of th 
j^arrison. In this quarter nothing but a line of loos \^ 
brush, representing an abattis, intervened. The secon ^^ 
brigade (major Wood commanding the 21st) and Tovi J| 
son's artillery, were ready to receive them. The Britisl 
under colonel Fischer, were permitted toapproaoh withi 
a short distajice, when a tremendous Hre was opene 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. £87 

«pon them, and their column fell back in confusion. The 
colonel, rallying his men, advanced furiouslj to the at- 
tack ; but was again compelled to retire|.with still greater 
loss. The possession of this battery being essential to 
the general plan of assault, he next essayed ^o pnss the 
abattis by wading in the lake; but in this unsuccessful at- 
tempt, nearly two hundred of his men were either killed 
or drowned, and tffe remainder fled to the encampment. 
The other of the enemy's columns having waited until 
the first was completely engaged, (presuming that their 
own operations would by that means be facilitated) colo- 
nel Scott now approached on the right along the lake, 
while colonel Drummond, who had taken advantage of a 
ravine which lay between the hostile camps, at the same 
moment rose up, and advanced to the assault in front. 
Colonel Scott was checked by the Douglass battery, and 
captains Broughton and Harding's New-York and Penn- 
sylvania volunteers, the ninth infantry uiider captain 
'Foster, and a six pounder under the direction of colonel 
ijVI*llee. Their fire was so well directed, that the ap- 
:proaching column paused at the distance of fifty yards, 
and then recoiled. The column of colonel Drummond, 
however, composed of eight hundred select troops, fiim- 
'ly advanced to the point of the fort, which was strength- 
! ened by a temporary parapet breast-work, with two bat- 
I teries and six field piece*. Suddenly applying his scal- 
ing ladders, he mounted the parapet. Ins officers calling 
out to the line at the Douglass battery to cease firing; 
this artifice, for a few moments succeeded ; the Ameri- 
cans supposing the order to come from their own ofiicers, 
suffered colonel Scott, who had rallied his men, to ap- 
iproach their line, by which ihe trick was discovered; it 
however availed notlnng, for this column was assailed 
with so much effect, as to be compelled again to retreat, 
■with the loss of its commander and a third of its num- 
bers. The front colujun was, in the mean while, ^iUi 
great difficulty thrown back, and the troops witiun the 
fort were reinforced from general Ripley*^ brigade, and 
general Porter's volunteers. Repeated assaults were 
■made by colonel Drummond, and repulsed by colonet 



I 



B88 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Hindman's artiMery, and the infantry under major Trim- 
ble. After the defeat of colonel Scott's column, lieute- 
nant Douglass was engaged in giving such directions to 
his guns, as to cut off the communication between colonel 
Drummond and the reserve intended for his support, un- 
der colonel Tucker. 

Colonel Drummond, although three times repulsed, 
was unwilling to renounce liis undertaking. Availina 
himself of the darkness of the hour, which was increased 
by the smoke, he stole silently along the ditch, and sud- 
denly applying his ladders once more, rapidly gained the 
parapet, crying out to his men to rush forward, and ia 
the elegant phrase, in which the British are in tliC habit 
of expressing their esteem for us, give the d — d Yankees 
no quarters! This order was faithfully executed; and 
the most furious strife now ensued that had been wit 
nessed since the commencement of the assault. All th^ 
efforts of major Hindman, and the corps supporting him| 
could not dislodge the enemy from the oastion, though h^ 
could approach no further. Captain Williams was mor 
tally wounded; lieutenants Watmouth and M'Donoughi 
severely ; the latter, no longer able to fight, called foi 
quarters. This was positively refused by colonel Drum* 
mond, who repeated his instructions to his troops to den^i 
it in every instance. The declining and almost exhaust- 
ed strength and spirits of the lieutenant, being restored 
and roused by the shocking barbarity of this order, h( 
seized a handspike, and with the desperation of madness 
defended himself against the assailants, until he was sho 
by the colonel himself. This man survived an act, tha 
was little better than assassination, only a few minutes 
he received a ball in his breast, which terminated his m 
glorious life. Brutal courage deserves only our abhor 
rence ; it is only when tempered with mercy, that valou 
is estimable among men. The enemy still maintaine( 
their position, notwithstanding the death of their leader 
and repulsed every attempt to dislodge them until da_y 
light : tiiey had, in the mean time, suffered excessively 
and the contest along the whole line of defences, witi 
this exception, having ceased, considerable reinforce 



al 



HISTORY OF THE WAI«. 289 

ments were ordered up. The enemy began at last td re- 
coil, and many were thrown over the bastion. The Bri- 
tish reserve was now expected to come up to their sup- 
port ; the result, however, by this time, scarcely admitted 
a doubt. The cannon of the Douglass battery infiladed 
their approach, and the artillery of lieutenant Fannin*; 
already played upon them with great effect. A part j>f 
the reserve was about to advance, when an explosion 
took place under the platform, which carried awav the 
bastion and all who were on it. The reserve fell back, 
and the contest, in a short time, terminated in the entire 
defeat of the enemy. 

The British left on the field two hundred and twenty- 
two killed, among them fourteen officers of distinction : 
one hundred and seventy-four wounded, and one hun- 
dred and eighty -six prisoners, making a total of five hun- 
dred and eighty -two. The official statement of general 
Drummond makes it in all nine hundred and five. The 
American loss amounted to seventeen killed, fifty-six 
wounded, and one lieutenant (Fontain,) thrown out while 
defending the bastion, and ten privates, prisoners ; in all, 
eighty-four men. It was not until all hopes of carrying 
the fort were at an end, that they deigned to take prison- 
ers of a few wounded men, who fell into their power. 

The explosion furnished the British with an excuse for 
their defeat; and they represented its consequences as 
much more serious than they really were, in order to 
bear them out ; but it is well known, that the assault had 
already failed in every part, and the small body of men 
in possession of the outer bastion, could not expect to 
subdue the wliole garrison. Nor was t\\e number killed 
by the explosion so great as represented. The slaughter 
m the enemy took place during the assault, which had 
already lasted upwards of an hour. But is it not won- 
derful that an enemy, who intended to put the garrison 
to the sword without mercy, should coiuptaiii of any mode 
of annoyance which would prevent the perpetration of 
their fell design ? 

The enemy now remained quiet in his enlrenchuients, 
tintil he received a reinforcement of two regiments, vvhv^n 

25 



290 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

he continued to assail the fort from his batteries, with 
little intermission, until the latter end of August. About 
this time general Gaines was severely wounded by the 
bursting of a shell, which compelled him to retire to Buf- 
faloe. 

The situation of the army in Fort Erie had begun to 
excite considerable uneasiness; but the operations of sir 
George Prevost, about this time, in the vicinity of Cham 
plain and Plattsburg, rendered it for sometime very un 
certain whether any relief could be sent by general Izard 
it afterwards appeared, that orders had been given to 
this officer by the secretary of war, but he was prevent 
ed, by a variety of causes, from proceeding as rapidly as 
could have been desired. The troops, however, were 
daily strengthened by the arrival of militia and volun 
teers; and general Brown, having sufficiently recovered 
from his wounds, returned to the command. The siege 
still continued with vigour on the part of the British, who 
had abandoned the idea of carrying the place otherwise 
than by regular approaches, although their force had been 
considerably augmented since their last defeat. The 
Americans laboured, with no less assiduity, to complete 
their fortifications : frequent skirmishes occurred, and i 
cannonade on either side was kept up, but nothing of im 
portance took place until the seventeenth of September 
General Brown observing that the enemy had just com 
pleted a battery, which could open a most destructivi 
fire the next day, planned a sortie, which has been con 
sidered a military chef d'ceuvre. The British force con 
sisted of three brigades, of one thousand five hundre< 
men each, one of which was stationed at the works ij 
front of Fort Erie, the other two occupied a camp twi 
miles in the rear. The design of general Brown was t 
"storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and rough! 
handle the brigade on duty, before those in reserve coul< 
be brought up." A road had previously been opened b 
lieute!iants Riddle and Frazer, in a circuitous cours 
through the woods, within pistol shot of the flank of th 
line of batteries, and with such secrecy as to have escaf 
ed the notice of the enemy. At two o'clock the troof 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 291 . 

were drawn up in readiness to make the sortie. The di- 
vision commanded by ii;eneral Porter, was composed of 
riflemen and Indians, (under colonel Gibson,) and two 
columns, one on the right commanded by colonel Wood, 
the left commanded by general Davis, of the New-York 
militia; this was to pi-oceed througli the woods by the 
road which had been opened, while the rii;ht division of 
tlie troops, in the ravine already mentioned, was to be 
stationed between the fort and the enemy's works, under 
general Miller, with orders not to advance until general 
Porter should have engaged their flank. 

The command of general Porter advanced with so 
much celerity and caution, that when they rushed upon 
the enemy's flank, they gave tiie flrst intimation of their 
approach. A severe conflict for a moment ensued, in 
which those gallant ofiicers, colonel Gibson and colonel 
Wood, fell at the head of their columns; and the com- 
mand devolved on lieutenant colonel McDonald and ma- 
jor Brooks. la thirty minutes, possession was taken of 
both batteries in this quarter, together with a block-house 
in the rear, and the garrison made prisoners. Three 
twenty -four pounders were rendered useless, and their 
magazine blown up by lieutenant Riddle, who narrowly 
escaped the effects of the explosion. At this moment the 
division of general Miller came up; general Brown hav- 
ing heard the firing, had ordered it to advance. In con- 
junction with col. Gibson's column, he pierced between 
the second and third line of batteries, and after a severe 
contest, carried the first of these ; in this assault general 
Davis fell at the head of his volunteers. The whole of 
these batteries, and the two block-houses, being in the 
possession of the Americans, general Miller's division 
inclined to the more formidable batteries toward the lake 
shore; at this moment they were joined by the reserve 
under general Ripley. Here the resistance was more 
obstinate, the work being exceedingly intricate, from the 
successive lines of intrenchments, contrived with studied 
complexity; a constant use of the bayonet v/as the only 
mode of assailing them ; the enemy had also, by tliis time 
received considerable reinforcements. General Mdler 



292 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

continued to advance, although suffering severe loss in 
some of his valuable officers; colonel Aspinwall was 
badly wounded, and major Trimble dangerously. The 
twenty -first, under lieutenant colonel Upham, forming a 
part of the reserve, and part of the seventeenth, uniting 
with the corps of general Miller, charged rapidly upon 
Ihe remaining battery, which was instantly abandoned by 
the British infantry and artillery. General Ripley now 
ordered a line to be formed for the protection of the de- 
tachments engaged in destroying the batteries, and was 
engaged in making arrangements for following up, against 
the rear of genera! Drummond, the success which had so 
far transcended expectation, when he received a wound 
in the neck, and fell by the side of major Brooks : he was 
immediately transported to the fort. The objects of the 
sortie having been completely effected, general Miller 
called in his detachments, and retired in good order, with 
the prisoners, and the trophies of this signal exploit* 
J'hus, in a few hours, the result of forty-seven days in- 
cessant labour was destroyed ; and in addition to the losa 
of their cannon, upwards of a thousand of their men were 
placed hors de combat. The American loss amounted to 
eighty-three killed, two hundred and sixteen wounded, 
and a like number missing. Besides the gallant officers 
already mentioned, several others of great merit fell on 
this occasion; captain Armistead, of the rifle corps; 
Hall, of the 11th infantry ; Bradford, of the 21st, and 
Buel, of the volunteers; Ensign O'Fling, of the 23rd in- 
fantry, a meritorious officer; and lieutenants Brown, 
Belknap, and Blakesley, of the volunteers. The loss on 
the part of the British has not been accurately ascertain- 
ed, but must have been very great, three hundred and 
eighty-five were taken prisoners. A few days after this 
splendid victory on the part of the British, for as such it 
was claimed by them, they broke up their encampment, 
and marched to Fort George! 

Soon after this affair, general Izard arrived with rein- 
forcements from Piaitsburg, and being the senior officer, 
superseded general Brown in the command. By this ac- 
cession of force; and the completion of the defences ot 



HISTORY OF THE WAIt £93 

Fort Eric, all apprehensions of any further attempt 
against it were removed. Ahout the latter end of Julv, 
the secretary at war, hearing that the British were sentl- 
ing strong reinforcements from Montreal to Kingston, 
had intimated to general Jzard, the propriety of moving 
the principal part of his force to Sackett's Harbour for 
the purpose of forming a junction with general Gaines, 
of threatening Prescott and Kingston, and at the same 
time detaching a part of his force to the aid of general 
Brown, in the prosecution of his part of the campaign. 
In pursuance of this intimation, the general moved to 
Sackett's Harbour, with nearly all his effective force, 
amounting to four thousand men, where he arrived on the 
seventeenth of September. The events which had in the 
mean time occurred, and which have been already de- 
tailed, had given a new face to the campaign. Shortly 
before the arrival of the general, he had received a letter 
from general Brown, giving information of his critical 
position, and calling for speedy relief. It was not be- 
fore the 20th, that general Izard was enabled to embark 
his troops, and it was sometime in October before he ac- 
tually reached Fort Erie. It will be seen, (in a subse- 
quent chapter) that the post which he left was, soon after 
his departure, placed in a situation as critical as that 
which he had come to relieve. These are the unavoidable 
cross purposes, resulting from the prosecution of a war 
with a handful of men, along a frontier of such immense 
extent, and the absurdity of expecting these small corps 
to march to their mutual relief, or to act on concerted 
plans, at the distance of four or five hundred miles, sub- 
ject to innumerable contingencies. Fortunately, before 
the arrival of general Izard, the success of the sortie 
planned by general Brown, had compelled the enemy to 
raise the siege. The approach of general Izard, in all 
probability, contributed somewhat to this event. Leav- 
ing a sufficient garrison under colonel Hindman, the 
army moved towards Chippewa, to operate offensively 
against the enemy ; but nothing of moment was achieved 
for some time, in consequence of their acquired shyness. 
, Before the close of the campaign, a gallant affair was 
25* 



S94 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

achieved by general Bissil, of the second brigade of the 
first division. On the eighteenth of October, he was de- 
tached with nine hundred men, to the neighbourhood of 
Cook's mills, at Lyon's creek, for the purpose of destroy- 
ing the enemy's stores in that quarter. After driving in 
a picket guard, and capturing its officers, he threw across 
the creek two light companies, under captains Dorman 
and Horrell, and a rifle company under captain Irvine, 
and then encamped. The next morning the detachment 
M as attacked by the Marquis of Tweedale, with twelve 
hundred men : the companies on the other side of the 
creek received the enemy's fire, and sustained their at- 
tack until general Bissil had formed his men, and brought 
them to their support. Colonel Pinkney, with the fifth, 
was ordered to turn the enemy's right flank, and cut ofT 
a piece of artillery which had been brought into action, 
while major Bernard advanced in front, and was recom- 
mended to make a free use of the bayonet. These or- 
ders were rapidly carried into execution. The whole 
line began to recoil, and the reserve, composed of the 
fifteenth, under major Grindage, and the sixteenth under 
colonel Pearce, was no sooner discovered advancing, than 
the Marquis gave orders to retreat to his intrenchments 
at the mouth of the river; he fell back in disorder, leav- 
ing his killed and wounded behind. After pursuing a 
small distance, general Bissil proceeded to the execution 
of his orders, in the destruction of the stores at the 
Mills; after which he retreated, with a loss of sixty-se- 
ven killed, wounded and missing. 

Soon after this affair, the weather growing cold, and 
iA^e season for military operations drawing to a close, it 
was deternsiiied to transport the whole army to the Ame- 
rican side ; which was accordingly effected, after the de- 
struction of the fort. The troops were distributed at 
Buff'aloe, Black Rock, and Batavia. 

Thus terminated the third invasion of Canada, if it can 
be properly called so; for it was not generally expected 
that any thing further would be accomplished, than keep- 
ing in chtck the forces of the enemy, and regaining what 
we had lost on our own side. At the opening of the cam- 



si . 



HISTORY OP THE WAR. 295 

paign, general Brown indulged a hope of bein^ able, in 
conjunction with commodore Chauncej, to subdue the 
British forces in the neighbourhood of Lake Ontario, and 
possess himself of Kingston ; but towards the beginning 
of autumn, so material a change had occurred in our situ- 
ation, in consequence of the great augmentation of the 
British force on our borders, and the invasions of ourter- 
ritory on the sea coast, and the Canada frontier, that all 
idea of making an impression on Canada, with the force 
then on foot, was abandoned. It was stated by the friends 
of the administration, that the best mode of protecting 
the Atlantic coast, was to threaten Canada, by which 
means, Great Britain would be compelled to concentrate 
the greater part of her force, in that province. The 
American regulars did not exceed ten thousand, while 
those of the British, it has since been ascertained, exceed- 
ed twenty thousand, nearly all veterans. The whole 
American army distributed in the diiferent Atlantic cities, 
would not afford much dependence for defence, from the 
troops which might be sent against them, if Great Britain 
had been relieved from the defence of Canada. As to 
the conquest of this province, it is very questionable 
whether it would materially have benefitted us. It is 
well known that it conta*ins the bitterest enemies to the 
American government and people, many of whom fled 
from this country during the contest for independence, 
and it is not likely that they would willingly be incorpo" 
rated into our republick. 

The most important results, however, followed the 
campaign on the Niagara. The developement of the 
character of American troops, under proper discipline, 
was productive of as much glory f\)r this country, as of 
surprise to the enemy. During the two first years there 
was scarcely time to form officers, and duriijg the last 
period of the war the army was composed of better ma- 
terials ; the aversion to enlistment was gradually subsid- 
ing, and commissions were sought by young men of edu- 
cation and talents ; another year would have given an 
army, which Great Britain midit have regarded with un- 
easiness. That spirit, which bestows superiority to man 



S96 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

in every station, was beginning to discover its resistless 
power; the closing scenes of this campaign placed the 
army on a level with the heroick character of the navy. 
What is that spirit ? It is the spirit of freedom ; it is that r 
which gives conscious dignity and worth to the soldien 
and the citizen. It is that which gave victories to' 
Greece, and gained triumphs for Rome, and which has 
carried the power of Britain round the globe. This eno- 
bling spirit animated the sons of freedom, and gave them 
strength to conquer in two pitched battles, on ground 
chosen by the veteran troops of England; and twice 
more to baffle and defeat the utmost efforts of their skill 
and courage ; for each Jlmerican felt, that he could not 
return to mingle with his countrymen without honour or 
disgrace. Such was the valour which they displayed, 
that it was declared by the British officers who had seen 
severe service in Spain, that they had never encountered 
men like these. But as Britain falls below America in 
the liberality and wisdom of her institutions, so her sons 
must yield the Americans the wreath of valour. Worth 
here, alone, is nobility. Our Hulls, our^Decaturs, our 
Browns, are not obliged like the Wellingtons or Nelsons, 
to share their well earned honours, with the creatures of 
accident; perhaps with the worthless descendants of 
worthless ancestors. I am far from supposing that there 
is no intrinsick good among the hereditary English nobil- 
ity, but certainly too many of them are born only to usurp 
the place of merit, and indulge the most idle and vicious 
propensities. It was proved to the world, that we could 
conquer upon the land as well as upon the sea. llie 
battles of Niagara and Chippewa, were both won by a 
combination of military skill and personal courage; the 
defence of Erie, and the sortie, if achieved by the arma 
of Great Britain, would have been ranked amongst the 
most distinguished acts of valour, since even their defeats 
are deemed worthy of applause. They have at last con- 
descended to place us on an equality with them ; the na- 
tion which never owned an equal before ; they have even 
arrogated to themselves a share of our victories, by re- 
garding our contest as a war between Greek and Greek; 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S97 

Lut we cannot admit that we are both alike actuated by 
that spirit of liberty, which distinguished Greece in the 
days of her renown. 

In the course of the summer, several expeditions were 
undertake-n to the westward. An attempt was made, 
with the co-operation of commodore Sinclair, to re^^ain 
possession of Michilimackinack, by major Croghan. But 
the enemy was found too strongly fortified for any im- 
pression to be made by a force so inconsiderable. The 
gallant young officer eifected a landing on the island, but 
soon found that the enemy was in such strength, as to 
render the capture of the place hopeless ; he therefore, 
after a severe conflict, returned to the shipping, with the 
loss of a valuable officer, major Holmes, and about sixty 
in killed and wounded, among the latter major Dashea, 
ef Kentucky. The expedition was not altogether use- 
less ; the British establishments of St. Mary's and St. 
Joseph, were destroyed. After leaving the island, com- 
modore Sinclair left two of his schooners, the Scorpion 
and Tygress, to cut off* the supplies of the British garri- 
son. Tliese were unfortunately surprised by a very su- 
periour force of the enemy, and carried by boarding, after 
great slaughter. 

About the same time, general M* Arthur, with about 
seven hundred men, marched from Detroit into the ene- 
my's country, and after dispersing all the detachments 
in the neighbourhood of the Thames, destroying their 
stores, and taking one hundred and fifty prisoners, re- 
turned without loss. 



5298 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XVn. 

War on the sea-coast— Engagements between the 6nemy and 
Barney's flotilla in the Chesapeake— Plunderings of the Bri- 
tish — Washington and Baltimore threatened — General Winder 
appointed to command the 10th district — Serious apprehen- 
sions from the British— Difficulties in collecting- an efficient 
force for defence — Capture of Washington— The plunder of 
Alexandria. 

The shifting scenes of this war, carried on over a sur- 
face so extensive, and with objects so various, once more 
bring us back to the Atlantic sea-coast. With the re- 
turn of spring, the British renewed their practice of 
petty plundering; and savage devastation on the waters 
of the Chesapeake, but carrying it to an extent still 

freater than the year before. The flotilla already spo- 
en of, for the defence of the inlets and smaller rivers, 
consisting of a cutter, two gun-boats, and nine barges, 
was placed under the command of that gallant veteran, 
commodore Barney, and who, on several occasions, se- 
verely repressed the inroads of the enemy. On the first 
of June, he gave chase to two of the enemy's schooners, 
but on the appearance of a large ship, v/hich despatched 
a number of barges to cut him off, the commodore order- 
ed his flotilla by signal to sail up the Patuxent. Here he 
engaged the enemy'^ schooners and barges, and succeed- 
ed in beating them off, inflicting considerable injury on 
them. The enemy, having been reinforced, made an- 
other attempt upon the flotilla with all their barges, but 
were again compelled to retire, being pursued to their 
ships. On the tenth, the enemy made a still more for- 
midable attack upon the flotilla, with two schooners and 
twenty barges. After a smart action, the barges were 
driven to take shelter in the St. Leonard's from an eigh- 
teen gun vessel, which was then so roughly handled, at 
long shot, that her crew ran her aground and abandoned 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 299 

her. These attempts were frequently repeated until the 
twenty- sixth, when the commodore, having received a 
reinforcement of artillerists and marines, moved against 
the enemy's squadron, of which two of the vessels were 
frigates, and after an action of two hours, drove them 
from their anchorage. The commodore finding the 
blockade of the St. Leonards raised, sailed out and 
ascended the Patuxent. 

After this, the enemy was constantly engaged in mak- 
ing inroads on the defenceless and unprotected settle- 
ments and villages along the bay, and its various inlets. 
Benedict and Marlborough, on the Potomack, were plun- 
dered of considerable quantities of tobacco, merchandise 
and stock. In the detail of their operations e;iven by 
themselves, it appears to have been the uniform practice 
to destroy the shipping, carry away the tobacco, and 
other staples, and induce tiie negroes to join them, who 
were afterwards, it is said, retained in slavery in tiie 
West Indies. A great number of individuals, in easy 
and even affluent circumstances, were reduced to po- 
verty. Several gallant attempts were made by general 
Taylor, and general Hungerford, to repress their incur- 
sions in Virginia, but the militia, hastily assembled, was 
generally found inefficient. At Kinsale, general Taylor 
was wounded and unhorsed, narrowly escaping capture. 
At this place, at Tocomoco, at St. Mary's, and various 
others, admiral Cockburn obtained a respectable booty 
of tobacco, negroes, and household furniture. 

Towards the latter end of June, apprehensions began 
to be entertained, that the enemy had in view some more 
serious object of attack, either Baltimore, or Washing- 
ton. Much alarm had been felt in these places the year 
before, but after it had subsided, an ooinion was indulg- 
ed, probably well founded, that a land force, greatly more 
considerable than was then at the command of the British, 
would be required to make any serious impression upon 
either of these places, or even upon Annapolis and Nor- 
folk; this was particularly proved in the attack upon the 
Utter. It was justly thought that the enemy had receiv- 
ed a lesson which would render him cautious in attackinjj; 



500 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the more considerable towns. But the sudden and un- 
foreseen events of Europe, had entirely changed the face 
of things ; Britain was now able to supply what she was 
not possessed of the year before, a powerful land force. 
Towards the latter end of June, our government received, 
certain intelligence from Messrs. Gallatin and Bayard, 
that our enemy was determined not. to let slip the op- 
portunity of gratifying revenge, and was about to send* 
powerful reinforcements to America. From the English 
prints it appeared that England was extravagantly elated 
by her success, and took to herself the whole merit of the 
great events on the continent, and in reality believed her- 
self the mistress of the world. She was well acquainted 
with our situation ; she knew that the regular troops on 
the Canada frontier could not at this momeut be with- 
drawn, leaving powerful armies to penetrate the northern 
states; and she knew that it was impossible in the short 
space of time, which had elapsed since the occurrence of 
the singular change in the state of Europe, which no 
statesman had foreseen, to embody a considerable and 
efficient force. The American cities were all exposed to 
attack by land, although tolerably fortified against any 
approach by water. A few thousand regulars were scat- 
tered along a coast of fifteen hundred miles, and the only 
force to be opposed to their veteran soldiers, was inexpe- 
rienced militia drawn together on the spur of the occa- 
sion. There is no doubt that the militia constitutes tlie 
best materials for armies, because individually they are ac- 
tuated by higher motives than the enlisted soldier can al- 
ways be; but in order to be efficient, to use the words of 
the great friend of this species of force, (Fletcher of Sal- 
ten,) •' they must be on a right foot ;'* they must be encamp- 
ed, disciplined, harmonised, accustomed to see danger, 
and the different corps taught to rely on each other, to obey 
and confide in their officers. This is not the work of a 
day. In the open field, where military evolutions are 
necessary, the novelties of the scene, as well as the want 
of reliance on each other, renders it impossible for this 
descripiion offeree to encounter, with eiTect, an army of, 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 301 

veterans, used to dangers, and regularly compacted by 
discipline, so as to act, as it were, by one mind. 

The attention of the President, being thus seriously 
awakened by the danger, to be apprehended if the news 
of the reinforcements, intended for the fleet then in the 
Chesapeake, should be true, called a council of the heads 
of department?, and suggested the propriety of collecting 
all the regulars within reach, of forming a camp of at 
least three thousand men, at some point between the 
Eastern Branch and the Patuxent, and of embodying at 
least ten thousand militia at Wa.^hington. These ideas 
appeared to meet the approbation of all ; and there is lit- 
tle doubt, that had they been, or could they have been 
carried into execution, both the cities of Baltimore and 
Washington would safely have bid defiance to the Bri- 
tish arms. Steps were immediately taken in furtherance 
of these views; a requisition wa& made of the wiiole 
tjuota of the state of Maryland, of six lliousand ; five 
thousand of that of Pennsylvania; two thousand of Vir- 
ginia; besides the whole quota of the district of Colum- 
bia, amounting to two thousand more ; making in the 
whole fifteen thousand, which it was thought would 
scarcely fail of bringing at least ten thousand into the 
field. It was ascertained, that about a thousand regulars 
could be depended on, besides a squadron of horse then 
in Pennsylvania, and some regulars who were ordered 
from North Carolina, and in addition, the men of Bar- 
ney's flotilla, in case it should be found necessary to 
abandon it. Here was a formidable army on paper ; but, 
with the exception of the regulars, these soldiers were 
yet quietly at their homes, the greater part at a consi- 
derable distance, and the work of drawing them out, em- 
bodying, arming, and disciplining, yet to be performed ; 
each of these operations requiring time, and causing una- 
voidable delay. 

A new military district, composed of Maryland, the 
district of Columbia, and part of Virgin a, was formed, 
and on the fifth of July the command was giv^-n to gene- 
ral Winder, who had been a short time before excliang- 
ed. The duties assigned to this ofiicer were amongst 
the most important entrusted to any one during the war ; 
26 



S02 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

ami were, in their nature, exceedingly arduous and diffi- 
cult. The armj, with which he was to defend the im- 
portant cities of Baltimore and Washington, existed only 
on paper; and whether they could be brought into the 
field, or not, depended upon casualties beyond his con- 
trol. A difficult task was imposed upon the general, in 
requiring him to create an army, and make every ar- 
rangement for successful defence, in little better than a 
month. Injustice to himself, it is to be regretted, that, 
under these circumstances, he had not declined the com- 
mand ; for the duty of a general certainly required no 
more, than the taking command of troops actually as- 
signed to him ; not on paper, but in the field. The de- 
sire of distinction, and the sincere wish to serve his 
country, overcame every personal consideration, and he 
diligently employed himself, from the moment ojf his ap- 
pointment, in visiting every part of the country, and in 
acquiring a minute topographical acquaintance with all 
those points vv^here the enemy would be most likely to 
make an attack. To visit every part of his district, and 
examine its different fortifications, was a work of consi- 
derable labour, and required time. At the same mo- 
ment he was assiduously employed in collecting a force ; 
in this, unexpected difficulties occurred : the governour 
«f Maryland, after issuing the drafts for three thousand 
men, found that scarcely as many hundred could be col- 
lected. With the governour of Pennsylvania, matters 
were still worse. He informed the Secretary at War, 
that in consequence of the deranged state of the militia 
law, the executive had at that moment no power to en- 
force a draft ; but that he would appeal to the patriotism 
of the people, in hopes that the legal objection would not 
be made, hy a letter of the seventeenth of July, eight 
or ten days after the general had assumed the command, 
he was authorized to call upon the governour of Penn- 
sylvania for the proportion of that state; but this letter 
did not reach him until it was too late. The effect, how- 
ever, of the call, is merely conjectural, as it could be 
founded upon no authority, but merely depended on the 
inclination of iadividuais. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 3Q3 

Thus seven thousand men were at once thrown out of 
the question, and of the remaining eiglit thousand men 
of this army on paper, two thirds at least must be de- 
ducted in allowinj^ for other failures. Towards the be- 
ginning of August, the general had about a thousand re- 
gulars, upon which he could count with certainty, and 
about four thousand militia, the greater part jet at theit 
homes; besides this disappointment in the contemplated 
force, he was involved in perplexity by not knowing 
where the enemy intended to strike, Baltimore or Wash- 
ington ; for adinitting that this force had been suflicient 
to defend one place, it was not sufficient to defend both 
at the same time. On the tailure of the draft in the state 
of Maryland, t:i^e force then embodied at Annapolis was, 
by the consent of the governour, taken as part of the state 
requisition ; and a brigade of Maryland militia, under 
general Stansbury, was also placed at the disposal of ge- 
neral Winder; but the inhabitants of Baltimore, near 
which they were collected, could not think of permitting 
them to leave tiie city, without reluctance, considering 
their own exposed situation. 

Here is an impartial statement of the causes which re- 
sulted in the subsequent disaster ; for under the circum- 
stances, it scarcely could have happened otherwise, with 
out one of those extraordinary turns of fortune, upon 
which we have no right to calculate. It is wrong in us 
to throw the blame exclusively on all, or any of the 
agents on the occasion. The blame must be shared by 
the nation, and partly by our political institutions ; nor 
do I think the worse of them for their want of energy in 
assuming promptly a military attitude : we should have 
to resign too many blessings to possess the capacity ; un- 
less our militia can be regularly classed and disciplined. 

The expected reinforcements arrived in the Chesa- 
peake about the beginning of August, under admiral 
Cochrane, who was soon joined by the fleet in great force, 
under admiral Malcom. The expedition was destined 
against Baltimore or Washington, but until the last mo- 
ment, it was uncertain against which in particular. To 
increase thii perplexity, the enemy divided his force into 
three parts, sending one up the Potomac, under captain 



304 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

Gordon, for the purpose of bombarding Fort Warburton, 
and opening the way to the City of Washington ; the 
other under Sir Peter Parker, as if to threaten Baltimore : 
while the main body ascended the Patusent, apparently 
uith the intention of attacking commodore Barney's flo- 
tilla, which had taken refuge at the head of that river, 
but with the real intention, as it was soon discovered, of 
attacking Washington. They proceeded to Benedict, 
which they reached on the 19th of August, and by the 
next daj', had completed the debarkation of their land 
forces, under general Ross, to the number of six thou- 
sand ; on the 21st they moved towards Nottingham, and 
on the following day reached Marlhorough. The British 
flotilla, consisting of launches and barges, ascending the 
Fiver under Cockburn, keeping on the right flank of the, 
army. The day following, on approaching the flotilla of 
commodore Barney, it was set -fire to by sailors left for 
the purpose, the commodore having already joined gene- 
ral Winder with his men. 

General Winder was at this time, while the enemy 
was wi1;hin twenty miles of the Capital, at the head of 
no more than three thousand men, fifteen hundred of 
whom were militia just drawn into camp. The Balti- 
more militia had not yet arrived, and those from Anna- 
polis, and the Virginia detachment, were on their way: 
The generaPs camp was at the Woodyard 5 he was still 
in doubt whetlier the British intended an attack upon 
Fort Warburton, which could offer but little resistance 
to the land forces, but could be formidable to the ships 
of the enemy, or intended to march directly to Washing- 
ton. The first was certainly the safest mode of attack 
on the part of the enemy, and that he did not make it, 
can only be accounted for, from his perfect knowledge 
of the incapacity of the City at this moment for defence. 
The City could make no defence, but that of repelling 
the assailants in the open field : the only hope was in 
taking advantageous positiy/us in the broken ground, 
bordered with woods, along the road through which they 
had to pass ; but as their numbers were such as to ena- 
ble them to push out flanking parties, this would not 
avail in the end. The only mode of resisting them ef- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 305 

fec^^ually, would have been by interposing sufficient num- 
bers, to compel them to repeated engagements, and to 
harass their flanks, and threaten their rear. On the af- 
ternoon of the 22d, the British army again set out, and 
after skirmishing with the Americans, halted for the 
night, five miles in advance of Marlborough. General 
Winder now retired by the Woodyard, where he had 
before encamped, to a place called the Old Fields, which 
covered Bladensburgh, the bridges on the Eastern Branch, 
and Fort Warburton ; for it was uncertain which of these 
directions the enemy intended to pursue. Colonel Mon- 
roe, the secretary of state, had been with him for several 
days, assisting with his counsel, and actively engaged in 
reconnoitring the enemy ; on this evening he was joined 
by the president and heads of departments, who remain- 
ed until the next evening. The anxious and painful 
situation of the general, rendered him desirous of bene- 
fiting by the council of the first officers of the nation; 
and their uneasiness in the urgency of the moment, in- 
duced them to hazard their opinions, perhaps too freely, 
in matters merely executive. In a critical moment, 
where prompt decision is necessary, too many minds^ 
suggesting their various expedients, do more harm than 
good. But this was an interference, considering the anx- 
iety of the moment, for which no one can be blamed. On 
the 23d, major Peter, was detached with some field pieces, 
and captains Davidson and StuU's companies, to skir- 
mish with the enemy near Marlborough, who advanced 
on him, and took a position near Old Fiehls, menacing it 
with an attack either that night or early in the morning. 
Apprehensive of a night attack, which might be fatal to 
him, general Winder retired to the City, intending to 
choose a position between it and Bladenst)urgh, where 
he could oppose the enemy with his whole force. 

On the evening before, general Stansbury arrived with 
his brigade, at Bladensburgh, after a very fatiguing 
marci), and immediately despatched his aid, major Wood- 
year, with the intelligence; and on the evening following 
was joined by colonel Sterrett's regiment, five hundred 
strong, and a rifle battalion under major Pinkney, late 
attorney-general of the United States. His couimand 



306 HISTORY OF TI?E WAR. 

amounted to two thousand men. About twelve o'clock 
at night, the secretary of state arrived at the general's 
quarters, and communicating the circumstance of the 
enemy's advance on general Winder, advised him to fall 
in the enemy's rear immediately ; but the general ob- 
jected, on the score of having been ordered to this post, 
and besides, that his men were so much harassed and 
fatigued by their march, a considerable portion having 
just arrived, that it would be impossible. During the 
night several false alarms were given, by which the 
troops iwere prevented from taking repose, which they 
s i>much required after their fatigues, to the greater part 
of them unaccustomed. On the receipt of the intelli- 
gence of the retreat of general Winder, Stansbury, in 
consultation with his officers, determined to move towards 
the City. Before day he crossed the bridge, and after 
securing his rear, halted for a few hours. Early in the 
morning he again moved forward, with a view of taking 
possession of some ground for defence, when orders were 
received from general Winder, to give battle to the ene- 
my at Bladensburgh ; he therefore retraced his steps,' 
and between ten and eleven o'clock the troops were 
halted in an orchard field, to the left of the road from 
Washington to that place. About tliis time colonel 
Monroe, at the request of general Winder and of the 
president, reached the brigade of general Stansbury, and 
offered liis assistance in forming the brigade, so as to 
dispute the pass with the enemy ; his aid was thank- 
fully accepted 5 the enemy was then within three miles, 
in full march. 

The best arrangements the time would permit, were 
made. About five hundred yards from the bridge, the 
artfllery, consisting of six six-pounders, under the com- 
mand of captains Myers and Magruder, was posted be- 
hind a kind of breastwork; major Pinkney's riflemen 
w ere placed in ambnsh to the right and left, so as to an- 
noy the enemy in attempting to ford the stream, and at 
the same time to support the artillery. The fifth regi- 
i»ent was drawn up about fifty yards in the rear ; and 
afterwards, perhaps injudiciously, removed much fur- 
ther : the other parts of the brigade were so disposed? as 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 307 

to support the artillcM'y, and annoy the enemy in his ap- 
proach. Shortly after this order was formed, major 
Beall arrived with ahout five hundred men from Anna- 
polis, and was posted higher up in a wood on the right of 
the road. General Winder, by this tii.ne, l"uid brought up 
his main body, and formed it in a line to the right and 
left of the road, in the rear of Stansbury*s brigade, and 
the detachment under Beall, with the heavy artillery, 
under commodore Barnay, posted on an eminence near 
the road. This line had scarcely been foiaied, when the 
engagement commenced, and the president and heads 
of departments, who had until now been present, with- 
drew ; the president conceiving it proper to leave the di- 
rection of the combat to the military men. 

About twelve o'clock the enemy's column made its 
appearance on the hill which overhangs the stream, and 
moved down towards tlie bridge, throwing rockets, and 
apparently determined to force the passage. He now 
made an attempt to throw a strong body of infantry 
across the stream, but a few well directed shot from the 
artillery, cleared the bridge, and compelled the enemy 
precipitately to shelter himself behind some houses near 
it, and apparently having suffered considerably, l^he 
fire was briskly kept up, and after a considerable pause, 
a large column rapidly advanced in the face of the batte- 
ry, which, although managed with great spirit by officers 
of acknowledged skill and courage, was unable to re- 
press them ; they still continued to push forward their 
column, which was constantly reinforced, until they 
were able to form a considerable body on the Washing- 
ton road. The enemy had not advanced far, when a part 
of the rifle corps, discharged their pieces and fled, in spite 
of the efforts of their commander, and of major Pinkney, 
to rall}"^ them. The remainder began the tire too soon, 
but with soaic execution. The British were every mo- 
ment drawing nearer the artillery, which could no longer 
be brought to bear upon thetn ; atid besides, there were 
no troops sufficiently near to afford a support ; it then 
became unavoidably necessary for it to retire, and was 
followed by m:ijor Pinkney's riflemen. One piece of ar- 
tillery was spiked and left behind. The whole fell back 



30$ HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

upon the fifth regiment, the nearest rallying point. A 
volunteer company of artillery now opened a cross fire 
upon the enemy, who were advancing through the or- 
chard, but with not much effect ; hut, from the shelter of 
the trees, they were enabled to open a galling fire upon 
the fifth regiment. Colonel Sterrett was ordered to ad- 
vance, which he did promptly, until again halted, in 
consequence of the other two regiments, of Stansbury's 
brigade, having been thrown into confusion by rockets, 
and having begun to give way. In a few minutes they 
took to flight, in despite of the .^exertions of general 
Winder, of general Stansbury, and other officers, to ral- 
ly them. Sterrett's regiment, Burch's artillery, and 
major Pinkney's riflemen, stilt maintained their ground 
with great firmness, and evinced a dis^iosition to make a 
gallant resistance ; but the enemy having by this time' 
outflanked them, they were ordered to retire ; this wa9^ 
unfortunately efiected in confusion and disorder, the 
unavoidable consequence with militia, in its retreat. 
Thus the first line was completely routed. The Balti- 
more artillery had before this taken a position higher up 
on the hill. On the right, colonels Beale and Hood, i 
commanding the Annapolis militia, had thrown forward | 
a small detachment under colonel Kramer, which, after 
maintaining its ground some time, with considerable in- 
jury to the enemy, retired upon the main body. Soon 
after the retreat of this detachment, the enemy's column, 
marchingalong the turnpike road, was suddenly exposed 
to the fire of commodore Barney, who opened an eigh- 
teen-pounder upon them, and instantly cleared the road; 
in several attempts to rally, they were again repulsed 
with great loss. In consequence of this, they attempted 
to fla.nk the American line to the right, by passing through 
an open fleld ; but this was frustrated by captain Miller, 
with three twelves, and his marines. The enemy con- 
tinued flanking to the right, and pressed upon the militia 
of Annapolis, who fled, after giving an ineffectual fire.| 
The command of commodore Barney was left to niain 
tain the contest alone 5 but the enemy no longer appear 
fd in front ; he continued to outflanl^, pushing forward a 
few scattering sharp-shooters, by which the commodore 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 309 

was wounded, and his horse killed under him, while se- 
veral of liis officers and tnen fell near him. His corps 
was by this time outflanked on both sides, and in the 
confusion, the ammunition wagons had been driven oil". 
His men were therefore ordered to retreat, the commo- 
dore himself was taken prisoner, and his pieces fell into 
the hands of the enemy. 

The Georgetown and City militia and the regulars, 
still remained firm, having been stationed in the rear of 
the second line, in positions the most convenient for an- 
noying the enemv, and supporting the other corps. 
These being in danger every moment of being out-flank- 
ed, orders were sent to general Smith, to retreat towards 
the city. Had the state of the British troops been 
known, this order would have been highly injudicious ; it 
has since appeared, that they were at this moment, faint- 
ing with fatigue, and that, supposing the whole American 
force routed} they had only pushed forward a detach- 
ment of their army ; there is no telling what effect might 
have been produced by their coming thus suddenly in 
contact with what would have appeared the main body 
of the Americans. After proceeding a few hundred 
paces, they were joined by a regiment of Virginia militia, 
which had arrived in the city the evening before, but liad 
not been ready till now to take the field. General Win- 
der still entertained hopes of being able to rally his 
troops, and of fighting the enemy between this place and 
Washington ; he had ordered the Baltimore artillery to 
move on towards thd city, and expected to find that the 
cavalry and Stansbury*s connnand, had fallen down the 
road to that place : he thought that they might yet be 
rallied on the regulars, and City and Georgetown troops, 
so as to make another struggle to save the capital. With 
this view he rode forward for the purpose of selecting a 
position, but he soon found that instead of moving to- 
wards Washington, they had scattered in ^very direc-^ 
tion, and as it afterwards appeared, the greater part had y 
fled towards Montgomery court-house. No words can 
pourtray the grief of the City and Georgetown militia, at 
being thus compelled to retire, without having had the 
slightest opportunity of defending their fire-sides and 






SIO HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

their homes. On arriving at the City, the general was 
met by the secretary at war, and the secretary of state, 
and after a consultation, it was agreed, that, with the 
tsmall remains of the army, it was in vain to think of 
making a stand ; the few scattered villages, which com- 
pose the City, occupying an extensive open plain, there 
was no position to be taken, at which the enemy might be 
opposed, and the capital was a detached building, which 
could be easily set on fire ; and even if trocips were sta- 
tioned in it, they could not prevent the enemy from pro- 
ceeding to any part of the city they might choose to as- 
sail. It was therefore proposed to rally the troops on 
the heights of Georgetown. But the general soon found, 
that but few of the militia could be collected, the greater 
part had strayed ofFin search of food or refreshment, after 
having suffered much during the day ; and others were 
almost exhausted, after the privations and fatigues which 
they had experienced. The next day he proceeded, with 
such as he could collect, to ^.lontgomery. j 

Thus did we experience the mortification of havin^j 
our capital entered by a hostile army. The wonnd tcj 
our national pride was great; for it was more a matter oij 
feeling than of actual injury. It was at most but a desj| 
perate bravado on the part of the enemy, who was com 
pelled to retire as rapidly as he had approached, anc 
which had no effect upon the contest, other than to ex 
asperate the people of this country, and of disposing botl 
parties to join in carrying on the war. To use the com 
njon language, it was the name of the thing which pro 
duced mortification ;for there was nothing wonderful ii 
a large body of veteran troops stealing a march upon ij 
new and unfortified town, and defeating an equal numj 
berof raw militia. The greater part of our force ar 
rived on the spot so short a time before the battle, as noi S 
to have been permitted to take even some slight repos 
after their fatigue ; the different corps and their ofiicer 
were unknown to each other, and to the commander 
the arrangements for meeting a poweiful regular fore 
had to be made at the very moment of battle. That w 
should have been defeated under such circumstances, ' 
not to be wondered at. and furnishes no inference unf( 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 311 

vourable to militia, or to the officers who commanded. 
The British force would probably have met with the same 
success, had it moved at that moment against any of the 
larger cities, which were no more aware of their danger 
than Washington. The President and lieads of depart- 
ments, on reviewing the force brougiit out for defence, 
despaired of success, and set about removing the ar- 
chieves of the government. The severe ceasure passed 
on general Winder, who had been unfortunate but ahvavs 
meritorious, was liighly unjust. Success is not tiie pro- 
per criterion in all cases ; in Turkey it is regarded as 
such; but tyrann}^ of no kind should find its v.'ay into 
America. It is the duty of the historian to rescue 'vorth 
from the unmerited condemnation of the hour, or the 
abusive virulence of party spirit. The ablest generals 
have at times been placed in situations, v»^here cou- 
rage, and genius, were alike unavailing. If general 
Winder erred, his errours must be shared by some of the 
greatest men of our country. Few possess more ac- 
knowledged merit, and ability ; and he is entitled to tl.o 
applause of his fellow-citizens for his conduct, at a mo- 
ment when he required assistance ; he abandoned a pro- 
fession in which he was eminently distinguished, and 
sacrificed a lucrative practice, and, almost to the ruin of 
his fortune, embarked in the cause of his country. This 
was at a period too, when by such course he incurred the 
displeasure of many of his political friends, some of 
whom denounced every one of tlieir party, that contri- 
buted either money or personal services in support of the 
war. When we recollect the extraordinary violence of 
party feeling at that moment, we ought to be cautious in 
condemning a man, who could forget every other consi- 
deration, and zealously devote himself to the support of 
government. 

The loss of the British, in this expedition, was little 
short of a thousand men in killed, wounded and missing; 
that of the Americans, ten or twelve killed, and tliirty 
or forty wounded. General Ross, after halting his army 
for a short time for refreshments, pushed on to Wash- 
ington,where he arrived that evening about eight o'clock; 
and having stationed his main body about a mde and an 



312 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

half from the capital, he entered the deserted city, at 
the head of about seven h?indred men. We have now 
to record the climax of that Vandal barbarity, exhibited 
by Great Britain during this war. The American metro- 
polis, or more properly its site, was entered by tbera 
without opposition ■; they found about nine hundred hou- 
ses, scattered in groups over a surface of three miles, and 
two splendid buildings, probably the finest specimens of 
architecture in the nev/ world : the capitol, though still 
unfinished, presented a noble structure; and the presi- 
dent's house, in point of taste, rivalling any building in 
Europe. By the admirer of the arts of every country, 
these splendid edifices could not be contemplated with- 
out pleasure, nor their destruction without the most in- 
dignant feelings. Admiral Cockburn, already so unfa- 
vourably known in the United States for the species of 
devastating and plundering hostility which he had di- 
rected, now, conjointly with general Ross, who, on this 
occasion, v/ithered every laurel he had gained in hoTiour- 
,?Me war, issued orders for the conflagration of these no- 
ble edifices, with the valuable libraries of the capitol, and 
all the furniture and articles of taste or value, which 
they contained. The great bridge across the Potomack, 
was also wantonly burnt, together with an elegant hotel, 
and several other private dwellings. This base and sa- 
vage destruction, is detailed in the ofiiciai letter of the 
British general, as a matter of perfect mdifterence. The 
blaze produced by the conflagration, was seen even in 
Baltimore, giving a terrible warning to its inhabitants. 
All that was combustible about the capitol and the presi- 
dent's house, was reduced to ashes, and the walls of 
these stately buildings, blackened and broken in melan- 
choly ruin, remained for a time, the monuments of Bri- 
tish barbarity. The American, who saw them long after, 
could scarcely refrain from swearing in his heart eternal 
hatred to-Britain. " 1 have seen the walls of Balciutha, 
but they were desolate ; the fire had resounded in their 
halls" These are the words of one of Ossian's heroes, 
on beholding the ruins of his father's halls. 

On the consultation of the president with the heads of 
departments J it was resolved to destroy .the publick stores 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 315 

ti the navy yard, to prevent them from fallinj^ into the 
enemy's hands ; on t'lm retreat, the publick buddings, 
stores, and veSsehj were set on fire, and consequently 
destroyed, with the exception of the schooner T^ynx, 
which escaped in an extraordinary manner. What" re- 
mained, was destroyed by the enemy, who took particu- 
lar pains to mutilate the beautiful monument erected in 
honour of the naval heroes who fell at Tripoli. The 
plundering of private houses was not carried on to the 
extent that might have been expected, probably from the 
shortness of the time which they remained ; they retreat- 
i.ed precipitately the next evening. It was now conjec- 
tured, that they meant to proceed immediately to Balti- 
more; the inhabitants of that place were in the greatest 
consternation, which the arrival of the city militia, fi'bni 
the field of battle, was not likely to allay. A moment 
I of silent, gloomy despondency prevailed, which cannot 
1 be described. In the midst of this dislieartening panicki 
I the citizens, notwithstanding, rejected all thoughts of ca- 
pitulation, and under generals Smith and Strieker, they 
prepared themselves to oppose the enemy, and in all pro- 
J^abiiity, they would ha^e made that desperate resist- 
j&nce, which renders even inexperidYiced troops su|)eriour 
I to veterans, when fighting for their families and theii* 
I homes. General Winder, with all the force he could 
'collect, proceeded rapidly to Baltimore; by this time, 
however, it appeared that the British had retired to their 
shipping. 

The squadron under captain Gordon, consisting of 
eight sail, passed Fort Warburton two days after t!ie re» 
treat of the British. Tiie fort had been abandoned afnd 
blown up by captain Dyson, in a most extraordinary 
manneV ; probably under the influence of the dreadful 
panick which generally prevailed. His orders had been 
to abandon it only, in case of an attack by the laml 
forces, but on a mere rumour, and ^vithout waiting the 
enemy's approach, he thought proper to take this mea- 
sure. On the twenty -ninth, the s({uadron reached Alex- 
andria ; and the inhabitants of that place, bein* com- 
pletely in the power of the captain, were co'apelled to 
jffer terms fur the preservation of the town from conflu- 



314 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

gralion and pillage. The insatiable avarice of the ene- 
my imposed the hardest conditions: all the merchandise 
of every description, whether in town, or removed since 
the nineteenth, was required to he put on board the ship- 
pin"-, then at the wharf, at the expense of the inhahitants, 
and the whole delivered to the enemy; that even such 
vessels as had been sunk, should be delivered up. I'hese 
terms, somewhat modified, were complied with ; and the 
captain descended with a Beet of prize vessels, and a 
rich booty. In the meantime, preparations had been 
made in haste, by the naval heroe?, captains Porter and 
Perry, to throw difficulties in the way of his descent. 
The first, at the battery of the White House, was assist- 
ed by general Hungerford's brigade of Yirginia militia, 
and captain Humphrey's rifie conspany ; and at the bat- 
tery at Indian Head, captain Perry was supported by 
the brigade of general Stewart, and the volunteer com- 
panies of major Peter and caprain Burch. Fro;n the 
third, until the sixth of Septernber, the British vessels 
^vere greatly annoyed in passing these batteries. Fre- 
quent attempts were also made by commodore Rodger?, 
by approaching the fleet with fiije-vesseis : but owing to a 
chaR^e of wind, they proved ineftectual. These respec- 
tive forces were afterwards concentrated under commo- 
dore Rodgers, at Alexandria ; he determined to defend 
liie place, should the enemy, who was not yet out of sight 
of the battery, think proper to return. 

Sir Peter Pavker, who ascended the Chesapeake, was 
Kot so fortunate as the other officers. He landed at night 
in the neighbourhood of Moor's Fields, with the view of 
surprising a party of militia, encamped under the com- 
mand of colonel Reid. In this he was disappointed, for 
the militia having heard the approach of the barges', were 
prCjiared to receive him. Sir Peter Parker having land- 
ed, moved forward at the head of about tvvo hundred and 
fifty men; but on approaching within seventy yards of 
the Americans, they received a heavy tire ; he endea 
vuured to press forward on the centre of the line; in tills 
he was foiled, and threw himself on the iiank, where he 
was also repulsed. Colonel Keid benig inforuied that 
the cartridges were nearly expended, ordered Ills mea 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S15 

to retire a small distance until they could be supplied. 
In the mean time, the British having sutteied a severe 
loss, thought proper to retire ; carrying with them the 
wounded, among whom was sir Teker Parker, who died 
soon after. 

The capture of Washington, we have seen, excited the 
most painful sensations throughout the United States ; 
the indignant feelinp,s of the people were at first levelled 
against the vfhole administration, but soon settled in lay- 
ing the blame of the alfair on the secretary at war and 
general Winder. We are willing to throw the blame any 
where, sooner than acknowledge ourselves in the fault. 
It was not the fault of the secretary at war that the mi- 
litia could not be called out, nor was it the fault of gene- 
ral Winiler, that the greater part of his troops would not 
stand their ground ; nor was the administration to blajne 
in not foreseeing tbe events in Europe, which no man in 
the vvorhl ever conceived. The President was shame- 
fully abused in the newspapers of the day, for not suffer- 
ing himself to be shot by the enemy, or at least takert 
prisoner. He did all, ano. more than his station^ or years, 
required. What could he have done, after the city was 
abandoned by the American troops .^^ The question is ri- 
diculous* lie. returned immediately to the city after it 
had been evacuated by tlic enemy, and from its smoking 
ruins issued a prociamation, vv-hich did honour to his 
heart aad head, and Vvhich tended to rc/ise the despond- 
iag mind of his country. Against the secretary at war, 
the cry was every where so loud, that tlie president, 
from motives of prudence, intimated to him the propriety 
of suspending his functions for a iime; tiiia his pride 
would n{)t permit him to do, and iie therefore resigned. 
It appears from tiie official letter of general Ross, since 
published, that he had not conceived the idea of the attack 
on Washington, until witliin sixteen miles of it, and in- 
formed of its defenceless state; that the destruction of 
commodore Barnes's flotilla had been his real and sole 
object. It was on his part, notwithstanding, a piece of 
unparalleled rashness, without a commensurate advan- 
tage to be gained. From the improbability of the attempt, 
it is said, that the secretary at war could not be pcrsuad- 



S16 HrSTORY OF THE WAR, 

edj until the last moment, that it was seriously intended. 
General Winder demanded an examination of his con- 
duct, and a court, of which general Scott was president^ 
honourably acquitted him. 

The character of Great Britain will not soon recover 
from the infamy cast upon it, in consequence of the vio- 
lations of the laws of civilized warfare, committed on our 
coast. The conflagration of Washington, and the plun- 
der of Alexandria, not to mention the despicable species 
of bucaniering practised on the defenceless inhabitants^ 
are without a parallel m modern wars. Napoleon, whom 
the British denominate the modern Atilla. entered the 
capitals of tlie principal nations of Europe, but was never 
disgraced by such wanton and unjustifiable destruction. 
These acts, grossly barbarous as they are, assumed still 
a deeper infamy by the effrontery and falsehood with 
which they were justified. A letter from admiral Coch- 
rane to the secretary of state, dated the day previous to 
debarkation, though not delivered until after the burning 
of the capital, stated, that having been called upon by 
the governour general of the Canadas, to aid him in car- 
rying into effect measures of retaliation against the inha- 
bitants of the United States, for the wanton destructioR 
committed by the army in Upper Canada, it became im- 
periously his duty, conformably with the nature of the 
governour general's application, to issue to the naval 
force under his command, an order to destroy and lay 
■waste such towns and districts upon the coast, as might 
be found assailable. 

The secretary of state, colonel Monroe, had no other 
difficulty in answering this extraordinary letter, thaaj 
such as arose from the shocking depravity, which could 
thus unblushingly publish its falsehoods in the face of day..: 
He could with truth reply, that in no instance had the 
United States authorised a deviation from the known 
usages of Vvar. That in the few cases in which there had ^ 
been even a charge against them, the government had 
formally disavowed the acts of its officers, at the same 
time subjecting the conduct of such officers to punish- 
ment or reprobation. That amongst those few, the charge 
cf burning the parliament hsjuse in Upper Canada, was 



■i 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S17 

now for the first time brought forward ; until now, such 
an accusation had not been made against the Americans: 
on the contrary, one of the most respectable civil func- 
tionaries at that place, bad addressed a letter of thanks 
to general Dearhorne, for the good conduct of the troops :* 
and moreover, that when sir Geor5::e Prevost, six months 
afterwards, professedly proceeded to measures of retali- 
ation, the aitair of the brick-house was not mentioned. 
But what in the mean time, it was asked, were tiie affairs 
of the River Raisin^ the devastations on the shores of 
Tiake Champiain, the conflagrations and plunderings on 
the sea-coast; were these in retaliation for burninsjf the 
parliament house ? Was this building of such immense 
value, as to render it impossible for th--^ nation to alone 
for its destruction ? But we were told, that there were, 
besides, the burning of a few sheds and huts at Long 
Point and St. David's ! And were not these unfortunate 
acts followed up by instant retaliation on the part of the 
British, wiiile the American ofilcers who committed them 
were dismissed the service of their count'.y, although ca- 
pable of pleading the uniform practice of the enemy iii 
excuse?! Were the conilagrations in the Chesapeake, 
during the summer, in retaliation for these acts ? or were 
they in prospective retaliation for the burning of New- 
ark ? if we do n .^t mistake, the avowed object of the Bri- 
tish governour in burning four or ftve villages, putting a 
garrison to the sword, and laying waste the iNiagara fron- 
tier, was to retaliate the burning of Newark, an act the 
American govern. iient so promptly disavowed. Wiiy 
did the governour of Canada, after this, tleclare to the 
world, that he was doubly satisfied, first with the disa»- 

* The malignant falsehoods resorted to by the British to co- 
ver their outrag'ts, are truly arftoiushing". Tlie chudceilor of the 
Exchequer asserted in the BrxUhh Parliament, that the Ameri- 
cans at York, " had not only burnt the houae of the governour, 
but also every house belonging- to the meanest individual, even 
to a siiell, and left the populace in a most wretched condition*" 

fThe burning of the Indian village on the river Thames, cal- 
led the Moravians ; not the Moravians whom our countryman 
Hackcnwelder devoted his life to civilize and improve, but a 
horde of savages in the employment of Great Uritain. 

27* 



S18 HISTORY OF THE VTAR. 

vovval of our government, and next with this ample mea- 
sure of retaliation ? Why was he at this very moment 
an advocate for honourable warfare on the Nortliern fron- 
tier ? How then could tjie conflagration of the noble 
buildings at Washington be in retaliation for the burn- 
ing a brick-house, hired for the temporary occupation of 
the provincial legislature, or for the burning of Newark, 
of a few out-posts, and the cabins or huts of hostile sa- 
yafves ! These, by the admission of the governour, had 
already been four times expiated, and each time by an 
increasing measure of retaliation. 

Such pretexts are too absurd to impose upon the most 
xo;norant. A lamentable barbarity has marked the con- 
duct of the British in the war throughout, very different 
from that of the United States, who sincerely endeavour- 
ed to avoid whatever might stand in the way to the most 
friendly relations, on the restoration of peace. At the 
very opening of the war, the British officers permitted 
iUe savages tofiglitby their sides, while we declined their 
aid ; tliey not only made them their allies, but did not 
interfere to prevent their commission of horrours, whose 
recital must shock every sentitnent of humanity. When 
the British admirals visited our sea-coast, and no com- 
plaints had been made against us ; when the complaints 
were on our side.; when there could not have been even 
a pretended pretext of retaliation, they plundered and 
burnt the villages on the Cliesapeake, they plundered 
the defenceless planters of their stock, of their negroes, 
of their funiture, and at Hampton even transcended the 
abominations of the River Raisin. On the borders of, 
Canada, the same course of burning or plundering wa 
pursued, and under the rage excited by these series o 
outrages, an American officer ventured at last, under 
misconstruction of the orders from his superiour, to des 
troy an English villa,?.e ; this unhappy affair, was gladly| 
seized as the pretext, for the first avowed retaliation, and' 
in consequence, a whole frontier was laid waste ! Their 
outrages, until this time, were v<ithout pretext for reta-< 
liation. In the mean time, what was their treatment t9 
Aii'erican prisoners, and to those who were dragged from 
Ihcii' shi^sto be enslaved, and what was the treatment 9i 



r 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 31^ 



Brltlsli subjects prisoners with us ? What pretext of 
retaliation covers the violation of neutral ports, in the 
capture of our vessels confiding in their sanctuary ? 
What pretexts warrant the barbarous orders of tbeir otli- 
cers, to refuse quarter to men opposed tot'ieni inbonour- 
able battle ? When is the measure of retaliation to be 
fdled,fora few unauthorised acts by individuals, acts 
wliich would occur in the best regulated war ? It now 
appears by the letter of admiral Cochrane that nothing 
short of the entire devastation of our whole sea-coast, 
containing many populous cities, and several millions of 
people, would satisfy this unrelenting enemy. No ; 
these unfounded pretexts only served to aggravate the 
outrages which that enemy had committed. The letter 
of admiral Cochrane scarcely deserved the notice of the 
secretary of state, but the refutation was certainly most 
ample. It is impossible to suppose, that such conduct 
was not as severely reprobated by the great mass of the 
Esigiish people, as it was by us. The minority in Par- 
liament (who, by the by, with, them represents tlie ma- 
jority of the nation) pronounced it to be disgraceful to 
their country. 

It has been the opinion of some, that our government 
was reprehensible in not resorting, at an early period, to 
retaliatory measures; but tliere is no American at this 
day, who does not reflect with pleasure, that in no in- 
stance did our government resort to such measures; had 
the war continued much longer, it v/ould perhaps have 
been unavoidable. It is difhcult to refrain from draw- 
ing a comparison between the devastating order of ad- 
miral Cochrane, and the order of general Brown, issued 
about the same tim.e, on his entering Canada. " Upon 
entering Canada,'* said he, *' the laws of war will go- 
vern ; men found in arms, or otherwise engaged in the 
service of the enemy, will be treated as enemies ; those 
behaving peaceably, and following their private occupa- 
tions, will be treated as friends. Private pr(t[)erty will 
ill all cases be held sacred ; publick property, wherever 
fouiid, will be seized and disposed of by tiie command- 
ing general. Any plunderers shall be punished with 
death, who shall be tound violating this order.'* 



sm HISTORY OF THE WAlt 



CHAPTER XVni. 

Sensations produced by the capture of Washington, in Europe 
and in England— Effect of this event in the United States — 
Glorious defence of Baltimore — The retreat of the Brltisii— 
Capture of the British squadron on Lake Champlain— Repulse 
of Sir George Prevost —The British ficet leaves the Chesa- 
peake, and a part sails to the south. 

J. HE capture of Washington was, at first, boasted of by 
the British ministry, as a most signal exploit ; but it was 
viewed in a very different light on the continent. To say 
notliing of the prosecuting hostilities with augmented ri- 
gour, at a moment when there was a negotiation for 
peace, the wanton acts of barbarity roused the indigna- 
tion of all the powers of Europe; and in the British par- 
liatnent, so great a sensation was excited, as to cause its 
perpetrators to shelter themselves from publick odium, 
by the basest falsehoods : the ministry were compelled 
to make a statement, that instructions* had been sent to 
the coast of America, to desist from further inflictions of 
vengeance. 

B i if the effect was powerful abroad, it was unexam- 
pled throughout the United States. Party spirit, that po- 
litical fiencl, instantly tied, and with it fled the dissen- 
sions which almost paralyzed the edbrts of the nation. 
But one voice was heard from one end of the continent to 
the other; a glorious union was brought about, and a na-| 
tion of freemen was seen to rise in its strength. Theses^ 
who had at first opposed the war, from an opinion of its 
impolicy, or who condemned the invasion oj Canada, now}^ 
saw only a powerful nation about to precipitate her ar- 
mies on America, with the avowed intention of desolat- 
ing our fair possessions. Ihe poison oi political diasen- 
sions, was dead with the political death of ^^apoleon; 
ana who could now say, that Britain was not actuated 
by the mere thirst for revenge, or tne less honourable 
thirbt for plunder ^ The Wiu' now came home to the 



I 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 521 

interests and feelings of every man, and the scenes of 
preparations, which were exhibited over the continent, 
were the most animated that could be conceived. The 
whole country was in motion ; every town was a camp 5 
snd in the cities, the peaceful avocations of the citizens, 
which the war until now liad scarcely interrupted, were 
laid aside. All the principal cities selected their com- 
mittees of defence, and the whole of the population mov- 
ed in bands, to the sound of martial musick, to the daily 
occupation of labouring on the entrenchments and fortifi- 
cations. 

The New England states, at first so nmch averse to the 
war, now exhibited their characteristick activity and 
energy, and gave at once a satisfactory proof that nothing 
was further from their intentions, than seceding from the 
confederation. The governour of Vermont, who had the 
year before made an attempt to recall the militia of the 
state from the service of the United States, and on which 
occasion the militia nobly refused to obey him, now en- 
deavoured to atone for his conduct, by calling them forth 
in the most animated manner, to join the standard of their 
country. The American ladies, always conspicuous in 
the history of America, for their patriotlck conduct in 
times of difficulty and danger, never appeared so lovely 
in their zeal for their country. 

The first object of attack, it was rightly conjectured, 
would be Baltimore ; the cities of Philadelphia and New- 
York waited the result with as much anxiety, as if their 
fete depended upon its successful issue; in this, they 
perhaps had reason; for should Baltimore fall, during 
the panick which succeeded the capture of Washington, 
and before the other cities would have time to place 
themselves in an attitude of defence, they could make 
but a feeble resistance. After the first moment of des- 
pondency, occasioned by the capture of Washington, had 
subsided in Baltimore, and it was discovered that the 
place would not be assailed immediately, tiie inhabitants 
set about making preparations for defence. Under the 
direction of general Smith, a ditch was opened, and a 
breastwork thrown up by the inhaljitants, on the high 
ground to the north-east (to effect which every class of 



S22 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

people united.) so as completely to protect the town m 
the only quarter in which it was accessible by land forces. 
In a few days, a considerable number of militia arriv- 
rd from Pennsylvania and Virginia ; and the spirits of 
the inliabitants were greatly anin.ated by the arrival of 
the naval veteran, commodore Rodgers, with his ma- 
rines, who took possession of the heavy batteries on the 
hill. A brigade of Virginia volunteers, together with the 
regulars, was assigned to general Vv^inder, and the city 
brigade to general Strici<er ; t)je whole under the com-' 
mand of major-jjeneral Smith ; the tvvo latter, distin- , 
guished revolutionary officers ; general Strieker had 
served from the commencement f^ the conclusion of t'lat 
war, and shared in many important battles. The ap^ 
proach to the city by v/ater v/as defended b v Fort M*Hen* 
ry, commanded by major Armistead, with about sixty ar* 
tillerists under captain Evans, and two companies af sea 
fencibles, under captains Bunbury and Addison ; of 
thesp, thirty -five were on the sick list. As this number 
was insufficient to man the batteties, major Armistead 
was furni.shed with two companies of volunteer artillery, 
under captain Berry and lieutenant Pennington, and a 
company under Judge Nicholson, (ChlerJuslice of Balti- 
more County) which had tendered its services. Besides 
these, there was a detachment of commodore Barney's 
flotillo, under lieutenant Redsmn, General Vv inder had 
also furnished about six hundred infantry, under lieute- 
nant colonel Steuart and major Lane, consisting of de- 
tachments from the twelfth, fourteenth, and thirty-sixth 
regiments of the United States troops, which were enr 
camped under tlie walls of the fort. The total amounted 
to about one tliousand men. Two batteries to the rights 
of Fort M*Henry, upon the Patapsco, to prevent the ene-i 
my from landing during the night, in the rear of th«( 
town, were maiined, the one by lieutenant Newcomb^ 
with a detachment of sailots; the other, by lieutenani 
Webster, of the flotilla; the former was called Fort Co^ 
vington; the latter, the City Battery, 

it was equally important to the safety of the city, thai 
in the event of an attack by land and naval forces, botl 
should be repelled} for ia case Fort M'Henry was sb 



HLSTOHY OF THE WAR. Q2S 

lencedby the shipping, there would be nvithinj^ to prevent 
the destruction of the town ; and if the land forces of the 
enemj' were successful, the fort could no lonsjer be of any 
avail, and would even he untenable. To tlie defence of 
Fort M*tlenry, and to the repulse of tiie British i'nnn the 
lines, the inhabitants looked for safety. Independently 
of tbe devastating (rders of Cochrane, afid the recent 
scenes at Washinoton and Ale;xandria, this city m as a 
selected object of the vengeance V.r the enemy, in conse- 
quence of her active and paf.riotick exerti<>r»si during the 
war. No one can hnagine to hin^self a just picture of the 
state of anxious feelinij;, amoni^ fJ'ty thousand people of 
all ages and sexes, for the approacldng crisii,, v hich 
would determine the >>afety or destruction of their city. 
And even in case of succe^^sful resistanc*^, the n;ost pain- 
ful incertitude hung over the fate of those who were to 
risk tiieir lives in its defence, nat strang-ers or mercena- 
ries, but their bosom friends, t'jeir brothers, their sons 
and husbands: every one. even old men and boys, who 
could vvieid a musket, wtvi^ found in the ranks. 1 he 
committee of safety, composed of tiiose adNauced in life, 
and the <uoHt influential citizens, (among v»h'.»m was the 
respectable colonel Howard, a hero of the revolution) 
took a large share in the preparations to meet the ap- 
proaching danger. 

Jhtj British army having re-emharked on board the 
fleet in the Fatuxent, admiral Cochrane moved down the 
river and proceeded up the Chesapeake ; and oii the 
morning of the eleventh of vSepteniber, appeared at the 
mouth of the Patapsco, about fourt- en miles from the city 
of iialtimore, with a fleet of ships .vf war and traii-purtg 
amounting to fifty sail. On the next day, the land forces, 
to the number of at least six thousand men, the veterans 
of Wellin-ton, debarked at North Point, and under the 
command of general Koss, took up their march loi the 
city. General Strieker claiuied f )r the city brigade, under 
his command, the honour of being the iir.-.t to meet the 
invader, and was accordingly detached b;y- general femitli, 
in anticipation of the landing of the British troops;. On 
the eleventh, general Strieker proceeded on the road to 
North Point, at the head of threp thousand two hundred 



\ 



324 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

effective men; consisting of the 5th regiment, undei° 
lieutenant colonel JSterrett, 5^0 strong; 620 of the 6th, 
under lieutenant colonel M'Donald : 500 of the 37th, un= 
der lieutenant colonel Long; 550 of the 39th, under lieu- 
tenant colonel Fowler ; 700 of the 51st, under lieutenant 
colonel Amej ; 150 riflemen, under captain Dyer; 150 
cavalry, under lieutenant colonel Biays ; and the Union 
artillery, of 75 men and six four pounders, under captain 
M'.ntgomery, (attorney «ene)al of the state.) A light 
corps of riflemen and musketry under major Randal, ta- 
ken from general Stansbury's brigade, and the Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers, were detached to the mouth of Bear 
Creek, with orders to co-operate with general Strieker, 
and to check any landing which the enemy might eftect 
in that quarter. 

At 6 o'clock, P. M general Strieker reached the meet- 
ing-hou^e, near the head of Bear Creek, seven miles from 
the city. Here the brigade halted, witli the exception of 
the cavalry, who were pushed forward to Gorsuch's farm, 
three miles in advance, and the riflemen, who took post 
near the blacksmith's shop, two miles in advance of the 
encampment. The next morning (the 12th) at 7 o'clock, 
information was received from the videttes, that the ene- 
my were debarking troops under cover of their gun ves- 
sels, v/hich lay off the bluff of North Point, vviihin the 
mouth of the Patapsco river. The baggage was imme- 
diately ordered back under a strong guard, and general 
vStricker moved forward the 5th and 27th regiments, and 
the artillery, to the head of Long Log Lane, resting the 
fifth with its right on the head of a branch of Bear Creek, 
its left on the main road, while the 27th was posted on^ 
the opposite side of the road, in a line with the 5th. Th^ 
artillery was posted at the head of the lane, in the inter«« 
val between these two regiments. The 39th was diawiii 
up three hundred yards in the rear of the 27th, and the 
51st, the same distance in the rear of the 5th ; the Gth 
regiment was drawn up as a reserve within siglit, hail a 
mile m the rear of {ne second line. Thus judiciously 
poste<i, the general determined to wait an attack, having 
given orders, that the two regiments composing the fVont 
line, should receive the enemy, and if necessary, fail back 






HISTORY OF THE WAR. G2a 

through the 51st and 39th, and form on the right of the 
6th, posted in reserve. 

The general now learned that the British were movins; 
rapidly up the main road, and at the moment when he 
expected their approach to be announced by the riflemet:, 
stationed in the low thick pine and fais, in advance, 

freatly to his chagrin, he discovered this corps falling 
ack upon the main position, having listened to a ground- 
less rumour that the enemy were landing on Back Uiver, 
to cut them off. This part of the general's plan having; 
been frustrated, he placed the riflemen on the right of his 
front line, by this means better securing that flank. The 
videttes soon after bringing information that a party of 
the enemy were in a careless manner carousing at Gor- 
such's farm, several of the officers ottered their services 
to dislodge him. Captains Levering's and Howard's 
companies, from the 5th, about 150 in number, under 
major Heath of that regiment ; captain Aisquitli's and 
a few other riflemen, in all about seventy; a small 
piece of artillery under lieutenant Stiles, and the caval- 
ry, were pushed forward, to chastise the insolence of the 
enemy's advance, and to evince a wish on the part of the 
American army to engage. The detachment had scarce- 
ly proceeded half a mile, when they came in contact with 
the main body of the enemy ; a sliarp skirmish ensued, 
in which major Heath's horse was shot under him, and 
several of the Americans killed and wounded, but not 
unrevenged, for in this aifair the enemy lost their com- 
mander in chief, general Ross. This officer l.ad impru- 
dently proceeded too far, for the purpose of reconnoit- 
ring, when he was killed by one of the company of captain 
Howard, who was in the advance.* After the death of 
Ross, the command devolved on colonel Brook, who con- 
tinued to push forward, notwithstanding this occurrence. 
The American detachment fell back, and the general cun- 

* The death of general Ross has been ascribed to an apprentice 
boy, armed with a rifle, who fired from bebind a tufi of bubhts, 
and forfeited his life for his temerity. This inattLr is still in 
dispute— having no opportunity of investigating it, I must k ^ve 
it so. 

28 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



ceiving the two companies of Howard and Levering, to 
be too much fatigued to share in the approaching conflict, 
they were ordered to form on the reserve, not without a 
request on their part, to be permitted to share the perils 
of their townsmen. At half past two o'clock, the ene- 
my commenced throwing rocKets, which did no injurj^, 
and immediately captain Montgomery's artillery open- 
ed his fire upon them, which was returned by a six- 
pounder and a howitzer upon the left and centre. The 
tire was brisk for some minutes, when the general or- 
dered it to cease on his side, with a view of bringing 
the enemy into close cannister distance. Perceiving 
that the efforts of the Britisli were chiefly directed 
against the left flank, the general brought up the 39th 
into line on the left of the 27th, and detached two pieces 
of artillery to the left of the 39th ; and still more com- 
pletely to protect this flank, which was all important, 
colonel Araey of the 51st, was ordered to form his regi- 
ment at right-angles with the line, resting his right to 
the left of the 59th. This movement was badly execut- 
ed, and created some confusion in that quarter, but was 
soon rectified with the assistance of the general's aid, 
major Stevenson, and the brigade majors, Calhoun and 
Frailey. 

The enemy's right column now displayed, and advanc- 
ed upon the 27th and 39th. Unfortunately at this junc- 
ture, the 5lst, from some sudden panick, after giving a 
random fire, broke and retreated m such confusion, as 
rendered it impossible to rally it, and occasioned the 
same disorder in the second battalion of the 39th. The 
iire by this time became general from right to left ; the 
artillery poured an incessant and destructive stream 
upon the enemy's left column, which endeavoured to 
shelter itself behind a log house, but this was instantly in 
a blaze ; captain Sadtler having taken the precaution to 
fire it, as soon as it was abandoned by him and his yagers. 
About ten minutes past three, the British line came on 
with a rapid discharge of musquetry, which was well re- 
turned by the 5th, the 27th, and the first battalion of the 
59tij, who maintained their ground in spite of the exam- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 327 

pic set by the intended support on the left. The whole 
of the general's force, with this diminution, scarcely 
amounted to fourteen hundred, to which was opposed the 
whole of the enemy. The fire was incessant, uiitil about 
twenty -five minutes before four o'clock, during which 
time j^eneral Strieker gallantly contended a<^ainst four 
times his numbers ; but finding that the unequal contest 
could be maintained no longer, and that the enemy was 
about to out-flank him, in consequence of the fliy;ht of the 
51st, he was compelled to retire upon his reserve, w!>ic!i 
he effected in good order. Here he formed his brigade, 
but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he fell 
back, and took post on the left of the line, a haif a mile 
i:i advance of the entrenchments, where he was joined 
by general Winder, wlio had been stationed on the west 
side of the city, but was now ordered with the Virf^inia 
brigade and captain Bird's United States dragoons, to 
take p6st on the left of general Sti icker. 

The conduct of the Baltimore briga<le, with tiie excep- 
tion of the 5 ist and the second battalion of the 39tb, who 
were seized with the panick'to which raw troops arc so 
much subject, deserved the highest praise. Veterans could 
not have done more ; their loss, in killed and wounded, 
ainounted to one hundred and sixty-three, (amongst 
whom were some of the most respectable citizens of Bal- 
timore) about an eighth of the force engaged. A<ijutant 
James Lowry Donaldson, of the 27th, (an eminent lawyer) 
was killed in the hottest of the fight; major Heath and 
major Moore, anda numberof other officers, were wound- 
ed. The loss of the British was nearly double that of the 
Americans, according to their own acknowledgment, and 
probably much greater. This unexpected resistance had 
a happy effect upon the enemy; in their official state- 
ments, they computed the American force at six thou- 
sand, a great proportion regulars, and estimated our loss 
at one thousand, from which we may infer their opinion 
of the manner in which they were received. 

The general, in his report, particularly mentioned the 
good conduct of lieutenant colonel ^Sterret, and major 
Heath, and major Barry, of the 5th ; captain Spangler, 



328 HISTORY OF THE WAR. | 

of the York (Pennsylvania) volunteers ; adjutant Ches- 
ton, who was slightly wounded ; lieutenant colonel Long, 
of the 27th, which regiment "was unsurpassed in brave-'; 
ly, resolution, and enthusiasm ;" lieutenant colonel Fow- 
k'r and major Steiger, of the S9th, and the volunteer 
companies attached to this corps ; of captain Quantril, 
froT. Hagerstown, and captain Metzgar, from Hanover, 
(Pennsylvania) the former of whom was wounded; cap- 
tain Montgomery had a distinguished share in the action, 
and gained great honour for himself and his company. 
Majors Calhoun and Fraily, and the general's aid, major 
George P. Stevenson, were highly complimented in gene- 
ral orders ; majors Moore and Uobinson, of the 27th, 
Vv-ere conspicuously active throushout the engagement. 
Many were the acts of patriotism tiiat would deserve to 
be remembered.* 

The result of this affair, when communicated to the 
lines, with the death of the British general, served to 
cheer the spirits of tiie militia, and inspire confidence* 

^^It is difficult to pass in silence the conduct of the venerable 
James H. M'CuUoch. Although near seventy years of age, and 
of a vv'eakly frame, he proceeded with a few old men like him- 
self, and requested permission to stand in the ranks of the com- 
pany which he had commanded twenty years before ; he was se- 
verely wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy. The old 
gentleman was, at first, a subject of mirth to the British officers, 
who jested at the idea of a person of his years, with one foot in 
the grave, turning out as a common soldier; but their jest was 
changed to admiration, on the arrival of the accomplished yoimg 
gentleman, his son, a surgeon in the service of the United States, 
and when they learned that he was the collector of the port of 
Baltimore. Such an incident proved a spirit of resistance, as dis- 
couraging to the foe as a battle. Mr. N. Williams, a senator of 
Maryland, was shot through the body, and left on the field ; hii 
brother, a wealthy merchant, was severely wounded in the thig' 
Mr. Hollingsworth, another senator, was also left wounded oi 
the field. — Amongst the citizens of note who devoted themselveSj 
on this occasion, none is more deserving of being remembered* 
than major Isaac M'Kim, one of the aids of general Smith, who, 
by his personal exertions, rendered the most essential service to 
the cause. These individuals are named, to show the kind ot 
materials of which the troops were composed. 



'3 
'5 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 329 

The brigades of generals Stansbury and Foreman ; the 
seamen and marines under commodore Rodders ; the 
Pennsylvania volunteers, under colonels C'obean and 
Findley ; the Baltimore artillery under colonel Harris, 
and the marine artillery under captain Stiles, manned 
tlj^e trenches and battery, and in this situation spent the 
night under arms, prepared to receive the enemy. The 
enemy made his appearance the next morning, in front of 
the entrenchments, at the distance of two nules, whence 
he had a full view of the position of the Americans. 
During the morning, by his manceuvres to the right, he 
seemed to show an intention of coming down by the Har- 
ford and York roads; to baffle this intention, generals 
Winder and Strieker were ordered to adopt their move- 
ments accordingly. The British were, in consequence, 
compelled to concentrate tiieir force in front, and to ap- 
proach within a mile of the entrenchments, shewing an 
intenticm of attacking the position that evening. Gene- 
ral Smith, therefore, immediately drew generals Winder 
and Strieker nearer to the right of tlie enemy, with a 
view of falling upon his rear, in case he should make the 
attempt, or think of retreating in the morning. 

In the meantime, the naval attack had already com- 
menced. The fleet, after landing the troops at the Pa- 
tapsco, proceeded to bon^bard Fort M'Heniy, which 
commands the entrance of tlie harbour. On the thir- 
teenth, about sunrise, the British had brought sixteen 
ships within two miles and a half of the (ort. Major 
Armistead arranged his force in the following manner : 
The regular artillerists under captain Evans, and the 
volunteers under captain Nicholson, manned the bastions 
in the star fort ; captains Bunburj's, Addison's, Rod- 
man's, Berry's, and lieutenant commaii<lant Penning- 
ton's command, were stationed on the lower works ; and 
the infantry, under lieutenant colonel Steuartand major 
Lane, were in. the outer ditch, to meet the enemv at his 
landing, should he make such attempt. The attack now 
commenced from five bomb vessels, at the distance of two 
miles ; when, finding themselves siifliciently near, they 
anchored, and kept up an incessant bombardment, wlulc 
ji8* 



330 HISTORY OF THE WAR, ^ 

ihey were at such a distance as to be out of the reach af 
the guns of the fort. The situation, although painfully 
inactive, was highly perilous ; yet every man stood to his 
post without shrinking. One of the twenty -four pound- 
ers, on the south-west bastion, under captain Nicholson, 
was dismounted, and killed his second lieutenant, and 
wounded several of his men. The enemy now approach- 
ed somewhat nearer, so as to be within striking distance. 
A tremendous fire was instantly opened from the fort, 
which compelled him precipitately to regain his former 
position. The bombardment was kept up during the 
whole day and night. The city, thus assailed on both 
sides, awaited the result with death-like silence, and yet . 
no eye was closed in sleep. Suddenly, about midnight, 
a tremendous cannonade was heard in the direction of 
the fort, and the affrighted population believed that all 
was over. Their fears were soon quieted, by the infor- 
mation that some barges of the enemy, the number not 
known, had attempted to land, but were compelled to 
draw oft' with all possible haste, after great slaughter, by 
lieutenants Webster and Newcomb, who commanded the 
city battery and Fort Covington, By the next morning 
the bombardment ceased, after upwards of fifteen hun- 
dred shells had been thrown ; a large portion of which 
burst over the fort, and scattered their fragments amongst 
its defenders ; a great number fell within the works, and 
materially injured two of the publick buildings, and two 
slightly. There were four killed, and twenty -four wound- 
ed ; among the former, lieutenant Clagget and sergeant 
Clemm, of captain Nicholson's volunteers, greatly la- 
mented by their fellow-citizens for their personal brave- 
ry^ and high standing m private life. Lieutenant Rus- 
set, (a gentleman of the Baltimore bar) of Pennington's 
coa^paiiy, received early in the attack, a severe contusion 
in the heel ; but he exhibited a noble example to the rest, 
by remaining at his post, notwithstanding, during the 
whole bombardment. 

Iji the course of the night, admiral Cochrane held a 
communication with the commander of the land forces, 
and the entei:prise being deemed impracticable, it was 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S31 

mutually agreed to withdraw. The bombardment still 
continued, alter the retreat commenced, in order to keep 
up the attention of the Americans, while the enemy, fa- 
voured by the extreme darkness of the night, and the con- 
tinued rain, took up their march unobserved. In the mean- 
time, the Americans waited the approach of day with 
much anxiety. About ten thousand men were disposed 
along the lines; and there is every reason to believe, 
that they would have repelled the enemy, with great loss, 
had he made an attack. Commodore Rodgers, with his 
brave seamen, would have given them a warm reception 
from his batteries. These were commanded principally 
by tlie officers of the Guerriere — lieutenants Gamble, 
Kuhn, Uutter, Frazier, together with sailing-masters De 
La Rouch and Ramage, and other naval officers, who 
inspired confidence by their presence. The hero of 
Lake Erie, commodore Perry, (although excluded from 
active command by indisposition) was, however, found 
on the lines when the attack was expected. Captain 
Spence took an active part in the preparations for de- 
fence. At da}' light the enemy had disappeared. Gene- 
ral Winder was immediately detached in pursuit, with 
the Virginia brigade and captain Birds dragoons. At 
the same time major Randal was despatched with his 
light corps, and all the cavalry was put in motion for 
the same object. The great body of the troops were, 
however, so worn out with continued watching, and with 
being under arms during ihree days and nights, exposed 
the greater part of the time to so very inclement weather, 
that it was found impracticable to do any thing nvore 
than pick up a i'ew stragglers. The time whiclj had 
elapsed since the retreat of the enemy, had given them 
an opportunity of protecting their embarkation in such 
a luanner as to prevent any part of their lear from being 
cut oft'. The next day the ileet descended the bay, to 
the great joy of the city of Baltimore, for this providen- 
tial preservation. 

The intelligence of this happy event was received in 
the neighbouring cities with demonstrations of jo>, wliicli 
cannot be described. The brave defence of Baltimore, 



352 HISTORV OF THE WAR. 

soothed the publick feeling for the affair of Washington. 
But one moment before, the popular dismay appeared to 
have reached its achme, and the most g;Ioomy anticipa- 
tions seemed about to be realized. The case of Balti- 
more came home to every individual bosom, for all the 
larger towns were equally threatened with devastation. 
The feelings of the inhabitants of the city itself, can with 
difficulty be conceived ; measures were taken to cele- 
brate the occurrence, to reward those who helddistin-^ 
guished commands, and to perpetuate the memory of this 
awful period. To those who fell in the sacred cause of 
the defence of their firesides and their homes, a monu- 
ment was decreed to be erected in the centre of the city. 
The illuminations throughout the United States had 
scarcely been extinguished, when news of the most bril- 
liant success was received from the northern frontier. 
While admiral Cochrane was threatening the sea coast 
with devastation, at the request, as he stated, of sir 
George Prevost; this officer, who was invading the Uni- 
ted States in another quarter, held a very different lan- 
guage. While he could direct the British forces to the 
South, to lay waste and destroy, if he really ever gave 
such directions, he \vas a great stickler for liberal and ho- 
nourable warfare on the borders of Canada. His lan- 
guage was of the softest and most conciliatory kind. On 
entering the state of New-York, "he makes known to its 
peaceable and unoffending inhabitants, that they have no 
cause of alarm from this invasion of their country, for 
the safety of themselves and families, or for the security 
of their property. He explicitly assures them, that as 
long as they continued to demean themselves peaceably, 
they shall be protected in the quiet possession of their 
homes, and permitted freely to pursue their various oc- 
cupations. It is against the government of the United 
States, by whom this unjust and unprovoked war has 
been declared, and against those who support it, either 
openly or secretly, that the arms of his majesty are di^ 
rected. The quiet and unoffending inhabitants not found 
in arms, or otherwise not aiding in hostilities, shall meet 
with kind usage and generous treatment j and all just 



HISTOUV OF THE WAR. 353 

complaints against any of his majesty's subjects, ofTering 
violence to them, to their families, or to their possessions, 
shall be immediately redressed/* There is nothing said 
of retaliation, nor the slightest hint that the war on the 
part of the Americans had not been conducted according 
to the usages of war. With these fair words, sir Gcorji;e 
led his army to Plattsburg, about the beginning of Sep- 
tember, while the fleet proceeded on his left up the lake, 
in oi'der that he mi^ht make a contemporaneous attack by 
land and water, rrevious to this, little of consequence 
had transpired in this quarter, excepting an attack on 
the battery at tlio mouth of Otter Creek, in which the 
British were repulsed with loss. 

The British had been greatly reinforced. During the 
months of July and August, the army from the Garonne, 
which had so much distinguished itself under Welling- 
ton, arrived in the St. Lawrence : a part being sent up 
to contend with Brown on the Niagara, the remainder, 
about fourteen thousand, were organized by sir George 
Prevost, agreeably to the orders of the Prince Regent, for 
the purpose of entering the state of Nevy-York. There 
is good reason to believe, that this movement had a more 
important object than a mere inroad : had it been suc- 
cessful, a powerful attempt would have followed from 
another quarter, on the city of New-York, in order, by 
seizing the line of the Hudson, completely to cut oft' the 
New-England States; perhaps under the gross decep- 
tion, that tbe people of those states would subifiit to be 
recolonized, or at least withdraw from the Union. 

After general Izard had marched to the Niagara, the 
force left at Plattsburgh, under general M'Ojmb, did not 
exceed fifteen hundred regulars, many of them invalids, 
and new recruits ; excepting four companies of the 6th, 
he had not an organized battalion. The works were in 
no state of defence, and the stores and ordnance were in 
great disorder. The British force took possession of 
Champlain on the 3d of September, and from the procla- 
mations, and impressments of waggons and teams in liiis 
vicinity, it was soon discovered that tiieir object wao an 
attack on Plattsburgh. Not a minuto was to be lost in 



S34 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

placing the works in a state of defence ; and in order to 
create an emulation and zeal amongthe officers and men, 
they were divided into detachments, and stationed in the 
several Forts ; the general declaring in orders, that each ' 
detachment was the garrison of its own work, and bound 
to defend it to the last extremity. At the same time, he 
called on general Mooers, of the New-York militia, and 
arranged with hint, plans for calling out the militia en 
masse. The inhabitants of Plattsburgh fled with their fa- 
milies and effects, excepting a few men and some boys, 
who formed themselves into a company, received rifles, 
and were exceedingly useful. 

General Mooers, by the 4th of the month, having col- 
lected about seven hundred militia, advanced seven 
miles on the Beckman-Town road, to watch the mo- 
tions of the enemy, and to skirmish with them as they 
approached ; at the same time to obstruct the road by 
breaking down the bridges and falling trees. Captain 
Sprowl, with two hundred njen of the 13th regiment, 
was posted at Dead Creek Bridge, on the Lake road, 
with similar orders ; he was also ordered to fortify him- 
self, two field pieces being attached to his command for 
the purpose. In advance of this position, lieutenant- 
colonel Appling was posted with one hundred riflemen, 
for the purpose also of watching their movements. At 
day light on the 6th, it was ascertained that the enemy 
were advancing in two columns by each of these roads, 
dividing at Sampson's, a little below Chazy Village. 
The column on the Beckman road approached rapidly ; 
the militia skirmished a little with its advance parties, 
but which, with the exception of a few brave men, soon 
broke, and fled in the greatest disorder. A detachment 
of two hundred and fifty men, under major Wool, had 
been marched to their support, and to shew them an ex- 
ample of firmness ; but it was found unavailing. 

Finding that the enemy's columns had penetrated 
within a mile of Plattsburgh, orders were received for 
colonel Appling to return from his position at Dead 
Creek, and fall on the enemy's right flank. The colonel 
fortunately arrived just in time to save his retreat, and 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 535 

to fall in with the head of a column debouching from the 
woods. He poured a destructive fire (vom his riflemen, 
and continued to annoy the column until he formed a 
junction with major Wool. Notwithstanding that con- 
siderable execution was done by the field pieces, the 
enemy still continued to press forward in column ; con- 
siderable obstructions were, however, thrown in their 
way by the removal of thi brid^jc, and by the fallen trees : 
a gallinv^ fire was also kept up from the galleys as they 
passed the creek. 

The village of Plattsburg is situated on the north east 
side of the small river Saranac, near its entrance into 
Lake Charaplain, while the American works are situated 
directly opposite The town being no longer tenable, 
the parties of Appling, Wool, and Sprowl, were ordered 
to retire ; which was accordingly done, keeping up a 
brisk fire until they had got under cover of their works. 
The enemy then threw their light troops into the houses 
near the bridge, and annoyed the Americans with their 
small arms from the windows and balconies, until by a 
few hot shot the buildings were set on fire. Through- 
out the day their light troops attempted to drive the 
guards from the bridge, but they paid clearly for their 
preseverance,and m an attempt to cross the upper bridge, 
they were resolutely thrown hack by the militia. After 
the whole of the American troops had crossed the bridges, 
the planks were taken up, and piled in such a manner as 
to form a breastwork. 

The enemy, now masters of the village, instead of at- 
tempting to carry the American works, on the opposite 
side of the river, which their vast superiority of force 
might have enabled them to do, contented themselves 
with erecting works, whence they continued to annoy 
the Americans, and constantly skirmishing at the bridges 
and fords. By the eleventh, the fifth day of the siege, a 
considerable force of New-York and Vermont militia, 
which had been continually collecting, lined the Sarunac, 
and repelled the attempts of the British to cross, while 
at the same time, a considerable body was sent to harass 
their rear. There was scarcely an intermission to the 



536 HISTORY OF THE WAR 

skirmishes which took place between them and the 
militia, who acted, after the first day, with great intre- 
pidity. The American regulars, at the same time, la- 
boured incessantly to extend and strengthen their works. 
During this time, a handsome atfair was achieved by 
captain M'Glassin, who, crossing the river in the night, 
assailed the British regulars, mure than three times his 
numbers, stationed at a masked battery, which had been 
for some day? preparing, drove them from their posts, 
and demolished the works. 

The principal cause of delay, which was fortunate for 
the Americans, was the momentary expectation of the 
fleet, which was intended to co-operate. On the morn- 
ing of the eleventh, at ei.o;ht o'clock, the look-out-boat 
of commodore M*Donough, announced its appoach. It 
consisted of the frigate Confiance, carrying thirty nine 
guns, twenty-seven of which were twenty -four pounders ; 
the brig Linnet, of sixteen guns ; the sloops Chub and 
Finch, each carrying eleven guns; tiiirteen gallies, five 
of which carried two, and the remainder one gun. The 
commodore at this moment lay at anclior in Piattsburgh 
bay, and intended in that situation, to receive the enemy. 
His fleet consisted of the Saratoga, carrying twentj^-six 
guns, eight of which were long twenty-four pounders ; ^ 
the Eagle, of twenty guns: the Ticonderoga, of seven- 
teen ; the Preble, 7 ; and ten galleys, six of which carried 
two, the remainder one gun. Besides the advantage 
which the enemy possessed, in being able to choose their 
position, their force was much superiour. The number of 
guHs in the British fleet amounted to ninety-five, and of 
men, to upwards of a thousand ; while that of the Ame- 
ricans was eighty -six, and the number of men, less by two 
hundred. One of the American vessels had been built 
with despatch almost incredible. Eighteen days before, 
the trees of which it was constructed, were actually 
growing on the shores of the lake. 

The American vessels were moored in line, with five 
gun-boats, or galleys, on each flank. At nine o'clock, ! 
captain Downie, the British commander, anchored in line, 
abreast of the American squadron, at about three hundred 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 33/ 

}^ards distance, the Confiance opposed U* tlie Saratoga, 
rfie Linnet to the Eagle ; the British galleys and v.Ae of 
the sloops, to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and left division 
of the American galleys 5 the orfier sloop was opposed to 
the right division. 

In this situation the vvliole force on hoth sides hecame 
engaged, and at the same moment, as if tiiis had heen the 
signal, the contest commenced hetvveen general M*('omb 
and sir George Prevost. One of the British sloops was 
soon thrown out of the engagement, by running on a reef 
of rocks, whence slie could not be extricated, wiiile one 
division of the enemy's galleys was so roughly handled, 
as to be compelled to pull out of the way. But the late 
of this interesting day, on which the two rivals for naval 
superiority, were for the second time matched in scpia- 
dron, depended chiefly on the result of tiie engagement 
between the two largest ships. The American commo- 
dore maintained the unequal contest for two hours, but 
the greater weight of the enemy's battery seemed to in- 
cline the scale of victory, although he suft'ered prodi- 
giously. The chances against the Saratoga were acci- 
dentally increased by the conunander of the Eagle, who 
not being able to bring his guns to bear as he wislied, cut 
his cable and anchored between the Ticonderoga and 
Saratoga, by which this vessel was exposed to a galling 
lire from the enemy's bri«;. The guns on the starboard 
side had, by this time, been either dismounted or become 
unmanageable ; the situation of the enemy was but little 
better; to both, the fortune of the day depended upon 
the execution of one of the most difficult naval manceu- 
vres; to wind their vessel round, and bring a new broad- 
side to bear. The Confiance essayed it in vain, but the 
efforts of the Saratoga were successful ; a stern anchor 
v/as let go, the bower cable cut, and the ship winded with 
a fresh broadside on the frigate, which soon after surren- 
dered. A broadside was then sprung to bear on tiie brig, 
which surrendered in fifteen minutes alter. The sloop 
opposed to the Eagle had struck to captain Henlev some 
time before, and drifted down the line. Three oT the 
galleys were sunk, the others escaped ; all the ^.^g^ ^f 
29 



S3S HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

the fleet fell into the hands of commodore M^Donough. 
By the time this bloody contest was over, there was 
scarcely a mast in either squadron capable of bearing a 
sail, and the greater part of the vessels in a sinking state. 
There were fifty -five round shot in the hull of the Sara- 
toga, and in the Confiance one hundred and five. The 
Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot. The action 
lasted two hours and twenty minutes. The commander 
of the Confiance was killed^ with forty -nine of his men, 
and sixty wounded. On board the Saratoga there were 
twenty-eight killed, and twenty-nine wounded. Of the 
first, was lieutenant Gamble; and on board the Ticon- 
deroga, lieutenant Stansbury, (son of general Stansbury, 
of Maryland.) Among the wounded, were lieutenant 
Smith, acting lieutenant Spencer, and midshipman Bald- 
win. The total loss in the American squadron amount- 
ed to fifty-two killed, and fifty -eight wounded. The loss 
of the enemy was eighty-four killed, one hundred and 
ten wounded, and eight hundred and fifty-six prisoners, 
which actually exceeded the number of their captors. 

This engagement, so deeply interesting to the two ri- 
%^al nations, took place in sight of the hostile armies. But 
they were by no means quiet spectators of the scene; a 
hot engagement was kept up during the whole time ; the 
air was filled with bombs, rockets, sharpnels, and hot 
balls. Three desperate efforts were made by the British 
to cross over, and storm the American works, in which 
they were as often repulsed, with considerable loss. An 
attempt to force tlie bridge, was bravely defeated by a 
detachment of regulars and captain Grosvenor's rifle- 
men. They attempted a ford about three miles above, 
but were so briskly assailed by a body of volunteers and 
militia, posted in a wood, that the greater part of the 
detachment was cut to pieces. The efforts of the enemy 
naturally relaxed, after witnessing the painful sight, so 
little expected, of the entire capture of their fleet. The 
firing was, however, kept up until night ; at dusk the en- 
einy witlidrew their artillery, and raised the siege. Thcj 
plans of sir George Prevost were completely frustrated,] 
since the Americans had uow the command of the lakej ' 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S39 

feven if he were to possess himself of the American works, 
it would not serve him in any furtlier desi:5n; in the 
mean time he would he exposed to great danger from the 
hourly a.iirmentation of tlie American force. Under the 
cover of the night he, therefore, sent oft' all Iiis hagi^age 
and artillery^ for which !ie found means of transporta- 
tion; and hefore day tiie next mornin^^, his whole force 
precipitately retreated, leaving hchind their sick and 
wounded. Vast quantities of military stores and muni- 
tions of war, were abandoned hy ihem, and still greater 
quantities were afterwards found hid in marhes, or buried 
in the ground. They were hotly pursued, a number of 
stragglers were picked up, and upwards of five hundred 
deserters came in. 

Tliose of th^ British army and navy who fell, were in- 
terred with the honours of war. The humane attention 
of the Americans to the wounded, and the politeness and 
generous attention to the prisoners, were acknowledged 
in grateful terms by captain Pryng, (who succeeded capr 
tain Downie) in his official despatch to the admiralty. 

Thus was this portentous invasion most happily re- 
pelled, and another of our inland seas made glorious by 
the victories of free Americans. The " star splangled 
banner'* waved in triumph on the waters of Champlain, 
as it did over Erie and Ontario. These noble features 
in our great empire, will henceforth be viewed with a 
very different interest from what they heretofore ex 
cited. 



S40 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Unanimity of sentiment in Congress — Britisli sine qua non- 
Affairs to the Southward — Creek hostilities— Invasion of 
Louisiana — Affairs of the gun-boats — British forces landed in 
Lfcuisiana — Battle of the 23d of December — Battle of the Sth 
of January — The British compelled to retreat — Bombardment 
of Fort St. Philip— Peace with Great Britain. 

The national legislature convened under very different 
feelings fcom those that had existed in this body for many 
years past. Party spirit, it is true, was not altogether 
at an encT, but no other course remained but a union in 
devising the best means for carrying on the ^var, which 
had become a war of defence. Vv hatever difference of 
sentiment might prevail with respect to the past, and as 
to the men in power, there was but little as to the course 
to be pursued in future. The great cause of the most 
bitter complaint against the administration, French in- 
fluence, was at an end, and the recent conduct of Great 
Britain towards this country, rendered it impossible for 
any one to say that she was not wantonly pursuing hos- 
tilities when these causes no longer existed. No one 
could now be the advocate of Britain. 

All felt the neglect with which our ministers in Europe 
bad been treated, suffering them to remain for months 
unnoticed, shifting the place of negotiation, and with a 
duplicity unbecoming a great nation, endeavouring to 
prolong, for half a yearp'a treaty which might have been 
accomplished in a day. But when the first occurrence 
which took place on the meeting of the commissioners, 
was coinnuinicated to this country, it produced a burst 
of indignation from all parties on the floor of congress, 
and through the union. It was thought, that all hopes of 
peace were at an end, and the people began to prepare 
their minds for a long and bloody war^ From the in- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. S4t 

structions which our commissioners had received, they 
were authorised (inconsequence of the pacification of 
Europp, and the necessity of Great-Britain for resorting 
to impressment no lont!;er existing, having already more 
seamen in the service than she required) to pass the sub- 
ject of impressment in silence for the present : this was 
in fact nothing more than the request made after the 
commencement of hostilities, to cease the practice of im- 
pressment pending the proposed armistice. The prao* 
tice had now ceased with its alleged necessity. The 
subject of blockade was also at an end for the present, 
with the power of Napoleon, and ought not to stand in 
the way of pacification. 

There was nothing, in fact, between the two nations : 
and our war, which had grown out of the war in Europe, 
and the injustice practised upon us by both the bellige- 
rents from alleged necessity, ought to have ceased with 
it Perhaps the government was censurable in this great 
anxiety for peace ; perhaps we ought never to have yield- 
ed until some provision had been made by the enemy 
to prevent the recurrence, at some future period, of the 
detestable abuses inseparably attendant on the practice 
of impressing her seamen from our vessels ; a practice, 
which had reduced to slavery many thousands of our 
fellow citizens. But the nation at this moment required 
peace ; we had suffered much from our inexperience 
during this first war ; a few years repose would enable 
us te vindicate this principle of eternal justice with a 
greater hope of success. Besides, it was reasonable to 
conclude that Great-Britain had, by this time, dearly 
paid for the impressment of our citizens and the confis- 
cation of their property, and that in future she would 
be cautious how she infringed our rights. It is seldom 
by compelling an enemy to acknowledge his wrong, 
that a war is successful ; it is by the resistance made, 
and the injury inflicted, that its object is attained. 
This sincere wish for peace was not thus met by the Bri- 
tish commissioners, who proposed at once, as a sine 
qua non, the surrender of an immense portion of the 
American territory, and a tntal relinquishment of the 
29# 



342 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

]ake shores. These new and unwarranted pretensions 
excited universal astonishment. Could it be supposed, 
that the English commissioners, on an occasion like the 
present, would descend to the trifling artifice of prolong- 
ing the negotiation, by proposing terms from which they 
meant to recede ? could they consistently with the 
dignity of their nation, recede from them ? If serious, 
such proposals argued a surprising ignorance of the situa- 
tion of the United States, or a disposition to insult them 
in the grossest manner. 

A subject which was brought before the legislature of 
Pennsylvania, and which received the approbation of all 
parties in congress, furnished a strong proof of a dispo- 
sition to unite in the cause of the countr3\ The leaders 
of the party in the New-England States, opposed to the 
war, had grown every day more and more intemperate, 
while the great mass of the people, on the contrary, were 
become better reconciled. Under a mistaken idea of the 
real sentiments of the people, a convention was propos- 
ed to meet at Hartford, in Connecticut ; and, according 
to the gazettes, its object was no less than a separation 
of the Union. Whatever this may have been, it was 
soon found that it was not approved by the majority of 
any party : the deputies of three states only convened, 
scarcely representing a third of New-England ; and after 
a short session, this mighty effort, to destroy, as was sup- 
posed, our noble patriotick fabrick, terminated in a de- 
clamatory address on subjects long since forgotten, and a 
remonstrance or petition to the congress of the United 
States, enumerating stale objections to the Federal Con- 
stitution, and which was presented to the several states 
ibr approbation, but evcKy where rejected. In the Penn- 
sylvania legislature, this extraordinary memorial was re- 
ferred to a committee, and a noble and eloquent report 
wa8 drawn up by a member of the opposition, in which 
the causes of complaint were clearly refuted, the con- 
stitution ably vindicated, and the conduct of the memo- 
rialists severely censured. This attempt to destroy the 
confederacy of the states, proved only disgraceful to 
\hose by whom it was made. Let it be the warm pray» 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 343 

er of every American, that this noble fabrick, reared by 
the hands of sages, and cemented by the blood of pa- 
triots, may be eternal ! The American has now still 
greater reason to admire, and love the institutions of his 
country, since the most violent tempest cannot shake this 
fortress of his safety, which is plalied upon a rock. The 
confederation of these states, was an achievm^nt which 
transcends almost every effort of human wisdom, ilow 
much bloodshed has it not saved already, and how much 
will it not save in future ? Look at the eternal wars of 
the Grecian states ; for, unfortunately, it is but too true, 
that neighbouring independent powers are natural ene- 
mies. \Vhat strength does not this glorious Union, give 
to each individual state, and what consequence to each 
individual citizen, who is thus made the member of a great 
nation, instead of being one of a petty tribe ^ The mind 
cannot contemplate this subject, without being filled with 
the most magnificent conceptions : eternal infamy to the 
wretch, whose heart can barbour so much wickedness 
against his country, and malignity to his fellow creatures, 
as to wish to loosen the bands by which we are made a 
nation, destined to be one of the greatest on the globe ! 

Another important affair was brought before congress. 
In consequence of the capture of Washington, serious ap- 
prehensions were entertained that a removal of the seat of 
government would follow, particularly as it was well 
known that there were a number of enemies to this site. 
But these fears were soon dispelled ; the question was fi- 
nally put at rest ; the veneration for the great father of 
our repuhlick prevailed over every other consideration, 
and the city of Washington is now destined for ages, 
and it is hoped for ever, to be the seat of our national 
government. 

Our finances also appeared to revive, under the indefa- 
tigable industry and great abilities of Mr. Dallas, whom 
the President selected at this critical moment to fill the 
office of secretary of the treasury. His plans were cha- 
racterised by the greatest boldness, but were unfolded in 
so luminous a mauiier, as to carry conviction to every 
mind. He may be said to have plucked up the smk" 



344 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

irig credit of the nation, by the locks. The duties of 
the secretary at war were, at the same time, discharged 
by colonel Monroe, in addition to his other avocations; 
in which undertaking he exhibited no small courage, for 
it had become a forlorn hope of popularity : he was hap- 
pily rewarded by the most fortunate success in all his 
measures, and by the universal applause of his country. 

While the American congress was thus occupied, the 
publick attention Mas awakened by a most alarming state 
of affairs to the southward. The Creek war was renew- 
ed, and a powerful invasion of Louisiana was threat- 
ened. General Jackson, after concluding a treaty with 
the Creeks, moved his head-quarters to Mobile. Here, 
about the latter end of August, he received certain in- 
formation that three British ships of war had arrived at 
Pensacola, and had landed a large quantity of ammuni- 
tion and guns, for the purpose of arming the Indians, 
and had besides n\arched into the fort with three hundred 
troops. He was also informed, that the fleet of admiral 
Cochrane had been reinforced at Bermuda, and that thir- 
teen ships of the line, with transports, were daily ex- 
pected with ten thousand troops, for the purpose of invad- 
ing some of the southern states. On the receipt of this 
information, he immediately wrote to the governour of 
Tennessee, calling for the whole quota of that state. 

The two vessels at Pensacola having been joined by, 
another, appeared on the fifteenth of September, off Fort 
Boyer, which commands the entrance to Mobile bay. A 
proclamation was now issued by colonel Nichols, com- 
manding his majesty's forces in the Floridas, addressed 
to the inhabitants of Louisiana, Kentucky or Tennessee. 
If not intended as a piece of humour, it proved a sur- 
prising ignorance of the character of these people. The 
inhabitants of Louisiana were called upon, to aid the 
British forces, in liberating their paternal soil from the 
usurpation and oppression of the Americans, and in re- 
storing the country to the right owners; as if these peo- 
ple would prefer to be a remote colony of Great-Britain, 
a nation whom they hated,* to being an independent 
state and enjoying the noble privilege of self-government. 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 545 

'The topicks afldrcssed to the people of the other state?, 
'^ xrited their mirth ; and this contemptible htitlo,»jierv ot 
cfilonel Nichols, was thought to do no p-reat honour to his 
Tna«t?r. It was not lonj; before this officer made an ex- 
periment of the persuasive eticcts of his eloquence. On 
t!io fifteenth, at four o''clock in the afternoon, he proceed- 
ed to make an attack on the fort, at this time garrisoned 
hy major Lawrence, of t!ie second infantry, witii one 
hundred an! twenty men. The batteries were opened 
upon the enemy, and the fire was returned by all his ves- 
sels. Before this, a party of one hundred and ten ma- 
rines, with two hundred Creeks, headed 'by captain 
Woodbine, and f^bont twenty artillerists, had lantled in 
the rear of the fort, where they commenced a fire with a 
twelve pounder and a howitzer, but were soon driven 
from their position. The vessels, after a cannonade of 
three hours, were compelled to retire, with great loss. 
The commodore^s ship, carrying twenty-two thirty-two 
pounders, was driven on shore within six hundred yards 
of the battery, where she suffered so severely, that those 
on board were obliged to set heron fire, and make tlieir 
escape: out of a crew of one hundred and seventy, this 
was effected, however, by only twenty. On board the 
other ships, which were considerably injured, eighty-five 
were killed and wounded. 

If the waggish proclamations of colonel Nichols had 
rendered him and his employers ridiculous, his conduct 
in another quarter was such as to cover him with lasting 
infamy. South-West of the Mississippi, in one of the 
lakes which communicate with the Gulf, a nest of out- 
laws, smugglers, privateersmen, or more properly speak- 
ing pirates,* had fixed themselves on an island, almost 
inaccCvSsible. These desperadoes, to the number of five 
or six hundred, were headed by a ferocious fellow of the 
name of Lafitte. From an accurate acquaintance with 
all the secret passages to the Mississippi, they could with 
facility smuggle their booty to New-Orleans, and with 

* They pretended to l\ave uniformly acted as privateersmen, 
under tfie flag- of Carthagena, but thev condemned their prizes 
in their own wav. 



346 HISTORY OF THE WAR, 

their aid an enemy mi^ht be guided to the very entrance 
of the city undiscovered. Lafitte, however, with that 
lawless boldness of character, mixed something of mas-: 
nanimity. He had for several years been outlawed, and, 
his establishment had been broken up in the course of the ■ 
suRiMer, by a detachment under colonel Ross, of the! 
44th. and a riaval force under commodore Patterson ; but; 
the force was no sooner withdrawal, than the pirates re-' 
turned to their old occupation. The British had been 
solicited to join in extirpating these publick enemies, but 
they declined, probably inteiulingto use them indue sea- 
son. This had now arrived, and to the disgrace of the 
Sritish government, an alliance was proposed by colonel 
Nichols, with extravagant offers of reward to Lafitte! 
But what was most humiliating to those who could stoop 
so low, this alliance was indignantly rejected. Lafitte 
at first dissembled, until he had drawn from the colonel 
important information, when he dismissed him with dis- 
dain, and immediately despatched a messenger to gover- 
nour Claiborne, who had some time before offered five 
hundred dollars for his apprehension, and laid before him 
iiicontestible proofs of the truth of his declaration. The 
governour was agreeably surprised at this unexpected 
trait of generosity, but at first hesitated as to the course 
to be pursued : on the approach of danger, however, he 
issued his proclamation, in which he pledged himself, 
that those engaged in this illicit course of life should bo 
forgiven, provided they would come forward and aid in 
the defence of the country. This was joyfully accepted 
by the Barritarians, as they were called, who tendered 
their services, and were found eminently useful. 

General Jackson having in vain remonstrated with the 
governour of Pensacola for his unprecedented conduct, 
determined to march against that place. Having receiv- 
ed a reinforcement of two thousand Tennessee militia, 
which had marched through the Indian country, he ad- 
vanced to Pensacola, to demand redress. On the 6th of 
November, he reached the neighbourhood of that post, 
and immediately sent major Peire with a flag to commu- 
nicate the object of his visit to the governour ; but he 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 547 

was forced to return, being fired on from the batteries. 
Jackson then reconnoitred the fort, and finding it tie- 
fended both by British and Indians, he made arrange- 
ments for storming it the next day. The troops were 
put in motion at day light, and being encamped to the 
west of the town, tlie attack would be expected frojn that 
quarter; to keep up this idea, part of tlie mounted men 
were sent to show themselves on the west^ whilst the re- 
mainder of the troops passed to the rear of the fort, un- 
discovered, to the east of the town. His whole force, 
consisting of a few regulars, a body of militia, and some 
Choctaw Indians, appeared in view, when within a mile 
of the fort, and advanced firmly to the enemy's works, 
although there were seven British vessels on their left, 
and strong batteries of cannon in front. On entering the 
town, a battery of two cannons, loaded with ball and 
grape, was opened on the centre column, composed of re- 
gulars, and a shower of musketry was poured from tiie 
houses and gardens. The battery was soon carried and 
the musketry silenced. The governour now made his ap- 
pearance with a flag, begged for mercy, and offered to 
surrender the town immediately. This was granted, and 
every protection afforded to the persons and property of 
the inhabitants; the commandant of the fort refused to 
surrender until midnight, when he evacuated it with his 
troops, just as the Americans were preparing to make a 
furious assault. The British withdrew to their shipping, 
and Jackson, having accomplished his purpose, returned 
to Mobile. 

By the first of September it was reduced to a certainty, 
that, notwithstanding, the negotiations pending at Ghent^ 
serious preparations were making fer a formidable inva- 
sion of Louisiana. Governour Claiborne ordered the 
two divisions of the militia, the first under general Vil- 
lere, and the second under general Tiiomas, to hold them- 
selves in readiness to march at a moment's warning. He 
also sent forth an animated address, calling on the 
inhabitants to turn out enmai>se, for the defence of their 
families and homes, from the lawless violence of the in- 
vader. On the iGtli of September, a number of the citi- 



348 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

zens convened, in order to devise measures, in co-f)p<?ra- 
tion with the civil authorities, for the defence of the 
country. Mr. Edward Livingston was chosen presi- 
dent of the meetinji; ; after an eloquent speech, he pro- 
posed a spirited resolution, which would repel the calum-. 
ny of the insinuation of their heing disaffected to tlie 
Aiuerican government, and would prove their determi- 
nation to oppose the common enemy. This, when made 
publick, was received with universal demonstrations of 
applause. 

The war bad, thus far, been felt in one of the most 
peaceful portions of the globe, only by its effects in com- 
mercial and agricultural prosperity. In consequence 
of the suppression of trade, and the low price ot all 
kinds of produce, the people had sutfered much. The 
banks had stopped payment, and distresses of every 
kind in this country of ab.indance, had begun to be felt. 
The great mass of the planters, (at least, of the French 
part,) of an amiable and gentle disposition, had paid but 
little attention to the existing war 5 the militia could 
scarcely be said to be organized, much less disciplined 
or armed. Nothing short of an actual invasion could 
rouse them. In tlie city, the case was different; from 
the commencement of the war, as if sensible of the fee- 
ble help which they could expect from the general go- 
vernment, they manifested the greatest alacrity in quali- 
fying themselves for taking the field against an invader. 
Every man, capable of bearing arms, had become a sol- 
dier, and perhaps in none was there such frequent and 
elegant displays, of well disciplined volunteer compa- 
iiiesi dressed in uniform. I'he wonderful aptitude of 
the French, for the profession of arms, was jiever more 
fully exhibited. There were intermingled with them a 
number of men, who had served in the French armies. 
The free people of colour, a numerous class, were per- 
mitted as a privilege of which they were proud, to form 
volunteer companies and wear their uniform ; some of 
these were native!^, but the greater part had been re- 
fugees from St. Domingo. The American and French 
inhabitants, although sometimes at variance with each 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 349 

other, on this occasion united heartily in dislike to tlie 
?!ln;4lish, and in a disposition to frustrate their desi^ins. 

The chief dependence of the inhabilants for safety, 
was in the nature of their country itself, being exceed- 
ingly difficult of access, for an enemy invading by sea. 
In front a shallow coast, and the principal entrance a 
river, which, after crossing the bar, is narrow, deep, and 
rapid, and of a course so winding as to render it easily 
susceptible of being fortified. To the west, the country 
is composed of impassible swamps, and on the F2ast, the 
low marshy coast can only be approached through a shal- 
low lake. The most natural defence of such a count>y, 
would be gun boats, or vessels drawing little water, and 
capable of being easily transferred from place to place. 
At the suggestion of commodore Patterson, a block ship 
had been commenced, but was not yet completed. Great 
uneasiness, however, prevaded, on account of the pow- 
erful force expected t(f attack them, and the deficiency 
of their means of defence. Louisiana had been left by 
the administration, which had neither money nor men to 
send, like other parts of the Union, to rely chiefly on 
itself. It was certainly, as it respected men, arms, and 
military works, in a most defenceless condition. Tiie 
legislatwre had been convened, but instead of actively 
providing the moans of defence, much of their time was 
spent in idle discussion. 

In these times of general alarm and danger, nothing is 
of so much importaiice, as a man at the head of affairs, 
possessed of firmness and decision of character, in wiium 
all may safely confide. Happily, at tliis critical junc- 
ture, there was found such a man in general Jackson. 
This officer hastened his departure from Mobile, on hear- 
ing of the danger of New Orleans, and arrived on the 
second of December. His presence was instantly felt in. 
the confidence which it inspired, and the unanimity and 
alacrity with which they seconded every disposition of a 
man so justly celebrated for activity, prudence, and good 
fortune. VVith wonderful rapidity, he put in operation 
all the resources of liis fertile genius, for the defence of 
the country. He visited in person, according to his iu- 
30 



350 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

variable practice, every point where it might be necessa- 
ry to erect works to oppose the invaders. All the inlets, 
or bayous, from the Attakapas to the Chef Menteur and 
Manchack, were ordered to be obstructed. The banks 
of the Mississippi were fortified by his direction, in 
such a manner, as to prevent any of the enemy*s vessels 
from ascending, and a battery was erected on the Chef 
jVienteur, so as to oppose the passage of the enemy in that 
direction. He then called on the legislature, to furnish 
him the means of expediting the difterent works which he 
had marked out. A number of negroes were furnished, 
and other requisitions promptly supplied. About one 
thousand regulars were stationed at New-Orleans, which, 
together with the Tennessee militia under Coffee and 
Carroll, were distributed at the most vulnerable points. 
Colonel Monroe, in anticipation of the approaching dan- 
ger in the south, immediately after Entering on the duties 
of secretary at war, had forwardecl military supplies by 
the Ohio river, and called on the governours of Tennes- 
see and Kentucky, for a considerable force, to be sent 
with all possible expedition to Louisiana. 

About the fifth of December, certain intelligence was 
received that the British fleet, consisting of at least sixty 
sail, was off the coast to the east of the Mississippi. Com- 
modore Patterson immediately despatched five gun boats^ 
under the command of lieutenant Catesby Jones, to 
watch the motions of the enemy. They were discover- 
ed in such force off Cat Island, as to induce the lieute- 
nant to make sail for the passes into Lake Pouchartrain, 
in order to oppose the entrance of the British. The 
Sea Horse, sailing master Johnson, after a gallant resist- 
ance, was captured in the bay of St. Louis. On the four- 
teenth, the gun boats while becalmed, were attacked by 
nearly forty barges and twelve hundred men, and after a 
contest of an hour, with this overwhelming force, the flo- 
tilla surrendered. The loss of the Americans was forty 
killed and wounded, among the latter, lieutenant Spid- 
den, who lost an arm ; lieutenants Jones and M'Keever 
were also wounded. The loss of the enemy was esti- 
mated at three hundred men. 



P 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 351 

The destruction of the gun-boats now placed it in the 
power of the enemy to choose his point of attack, and, at 
the same time, in a great measure, deprived us of the 
means of watchino; his motions. The commander in 
ciiief, that no precaution might be wanting, ordered the 
battalion of men of colour under Lacoste, together witli 
the Feliciana dragoons, to take post on the Chef Men> 
teur, to cover the road to the city from the lake ; and 
captain Newman, of the artillery, who commanded at the 
Rcgoiets, was ordered to defend tliat place totiie last ex- 
tremity, in order to prevent the British, if possible, from 
entering Poucliartrain. Other measures were rapidly 
adopted. Colonel Forticr, one of the principal mer- 
ciiants of the city, w!io had the superintendance of tiie 
volunteers composed of the men of colour, formed a se- 
cond battalion, whicii was placed under the command of 
major Dacjuin. Tlie legislature appropriated a conside- 
rable sum of money, and by means of bounties whicli 
they offered, a number of persons were induced to serve 
on board the schooner Caroline, and the brig Louisiana. 
On the 18th, the commander in chief reviewed the city 
regiments, and was particularly gratified witli the ap- 
pearance of the uniform companies commanded by major 
Plauche. The other battalion, together with a company 
of light artillery under lieutenant Wagner, was ordered 
to the bayou St. John. An embargo was laid for three 
days by the legislature, a number of persons, confined In 
the prison", were liberated on condition of serving in the 
ranks, and at length the commander in chief conceived 
it indispensable, for the safety of the country, to declare 
martial law, a measure fully justified by necessity. La- 
fitte and iiis Barratarians, about this time joined the 
American forces. The city now exhibited an interesting 
spectacle ; all classes cheerfully preparing for the recep- 
tion of the invatler, and reposing the utmost confidence 
in Jackson. Ail was life and bustle, and the female part 
of tl^ society seemed emulous to share in this ^ftecting 
scene. 

All the principal bayous which communicate with the 
lake^ and the narrow strip of land on the borders of the 



■u 



352 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

^Mississippi, through the swamps, had been obstructed. 
There was, however, a communication with LakeBorgnej 
but little known, called the Bajou Bienvenu, used by 
fishermen ; its head near the plantation of general Villere, 
seven miles below the city. Major Villere had received 
orders from his father to guard this bayou, and he accord- 
ingly stationed a guard near its entrance into the lake, 
at the cabins of some fishermen. It afterwards appear- 
ed, that these wretches had been in the employment of 
the British. On the twenty second, guided by them, the 
enemy came suddenly upon the American guard, and 
took them prisoners. The division under general Keane, 
by four o'clock in the morning, reached the commence- 
ment of Villere's canal, and having disembarked and 
rested some hours, proceeded through the cane brake, 
and by two o'clock, reached the bank of the river. Gene- 
ral Villere's house was suddenly surrounded, as also, 
that of his neighbour, col. La Ronde 5 but this officer, as 
well as major Villere, was so fortunate as to effect his 
escape, and hastening to the head quarters, communicat- 
ed the intelligence. 

The alarm gun was fired, and the commander in chief, 
with that promptitude and decision for which he is sore- 
inarkable^ instantly resolved on the only course to be pur- 
sued, which was, without the loss of a moment's time, to 
attack the enemy. Coffee's riflemen, stationed above the 
city, in one hour's time were at t!ie place of rendezvous, 
the battalion of major Plauche had arrived from the 
bayou, and the regulars and city volunteers were ready 
to march. By six o'clock, the different corps were united 
on Rodrigues' canal, six miles below the city. The 
schooner Caroline, captain Henley, at the same time 
dropped down the river. The command of general Cof- 
fee, together with captain Beale's riflemen, were placed 
on the left, towards the woods ; tlie city volunteers and 
men of colour under Plauche and Daquin, the whole un- 
der the command of colonel Ross, were stationed to the 
Tight of these ; and next to them, the two regiments of 
regular?, the seventh and forty-fourth ; the artillery and 
marines under colonel M'Rea, occupied tJie road. The 



HISTORY OF THE WAR, 353 

whole scarcely exceeding two thousand men. The Bri- 
tish force at this time amounted to three thousand, and 
instead of pushing directly towards the city, had bivourck- 
ed, fully convinced tliat the most difficult part of the 
enterprise was already achieved. Carrol's force was 
posted on the Gentilly road, to provide against an attack 
from that quarter. Coftee was directed to turn their 
right, which rested on the wood at the distance of half a 
mile from the river, while the general assailed their 
strongest position near it. Commodore Patterson, who 
had gone on board the Caroline, dropped down at the 
same time, and was to open his fire upon the enemy as 
the signal of attack. The first intimation of the approach 
of the Americans, was a raking broadside from the 
schooner, their fires extending from the river, enabled the 
assailants to take deliberate aim : Cottee's men, with 
their usual impetuosity, rushed upon the right, and 
entered their camp, while Jackson's troops in front, ad- 
vanced upon them with great ardour. 

The enemy, altliouii,h taken by surprise, and having 
several hundreds suddenly killed and wounded, soon 
formed, and their fires being extinguished, came into ac- 
tion. A thick fog which arose shortly after, producing 
som^ confusion in the different American corps, Jackson 
prudently called oft* his troops, lay on the field that night, 
and at four in the morning, took a position on the other 
side of the canal of Rodrigues, which had formely been a 
mill race. The American loss was twenty-four killed, 
one hundred and fifteen wounded, and seventy -four pri- 
soners, amon^ whom were many of the principal inhabi- 
tants of the city. Colonel Lauderdale, of Tennessee, a 
brave soldier, fell much lamented. That of the British 
was estimated at four hundred in killed, wounded and 
missing. They had intended to proceed to New-Orleans 
the next day, but were induced to be more cautious, 
having estimated Jackson-s force at fifteen thousand men. 

The general set to work immediately to fortify hi^ po- 
sition, rhis was efi'ected by a simple breastwork, from 
the river to the swamp, with a ditch in front. To hasten- 
the construction of these works, cotton bags were used, 
30* 



554 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

as the cheeks of the embrazures. As the enemy was 
still annoyed by the Caroline, they set to work in con- 
structing batteries to attack her; and on the twenty-se- 
venth, threw hot shot, by which she was set on fire and 
blown up, about an hour after she was abandoned by her 
crew. The Louisiana, which then took her station, sus- 
tained the fire of all the batteries, until in imminent 
danger : in losing her, the whole co-operative naval force 
would be lost: her commander lieutenant Thompson, 
after encountering many obstacles, finally succeeded in 
bringing her near Jackson's position. After the destruc- 
tion of the Caroline, Sir Edward Packenham, the British 
commander in chief, having landed the main body of his 
army, with a sufficient train of artillery, superintended 
in person the arrangements for fortifying his position. 
On the twenty-eighth, the British general advanced up 
the levee in force, with the intention of driving Jackson 
from his entrenchments, and at the distance of half a 
mile commenced an attack with rockets, bombs, and a 
heavy cannonade, as he approached the American works, 
which were yet unfinished. The Louisiana discharging 
her broadside upon the enemy's columns, caused great 
destruction ; the fire from the American batteries was 
not less destructive ; and after a violent struggle of Seven 
hours, the British general retired. The loss of tlie Ame- 
ricans was seven killed and eight wounded, among the 
former colonel Henderson, of Tennessee ; that of the 
British much more considerable. 

On the morning of the first of January, 1815, Sir Ed- 
ward Packenham was discovered to have constructed 
batteries near the American works, and at day -light com- 
menced a heavy fire from them, which was well returned 
by Jackson. A bold attempt was, at the same time, made 
to turn the left of the Americans ; but in this the enemy 
was completely repulsed. The British retired in the 
evening, from their batteries, having spiked their guns, 
and leaving behind a quantity of ammunition. The loss 
of the Americans on this occasion, was eleven killed and 
twenty-three wounded. On the fourth, §;eneral Jackson 
was joined by two thousand five hundred Kentuckiansj 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 355 

under general Adair; and on the sixth, the British were 
(joined by general Lambert, at the head of four thousand 
men. The Britiih force now amounted to little short of 
fifteen thousand of the finest troops ; that of the Ameri- 
cans to about six thousand, chiefly raw nnlitia, a consi- 
i derable portion unarmed, and from the haste of their de- 
parture, badly supplied with clothing. All the private 
arms which the inhabitants possessed were collected, and 
the ladies of New -Orleans occupied themselves continu- 
ally in making difterent articles of clothing. The mayor 
of the city, Mr. Girod, was particularly active at this 
trying moment. 

The British general now prepared for a serious attempt 
on the American works. With great labour lie had com- 
pleted, b}' the seventh, a canal from the swamp to the 
Mississippi, by which he was enabled to transport a num- 
ber of his boats to the river : it was his iiitention to make 
a simultaneous attack on the main force of general Jack- 
son on the left bank, and crossing the river, attacked the 
battenes on the right. The works of the American ge- 
neral were by this time completed ; his front was a 
straight line of one thousand yards, defended by upwards 
of three thousand infantry and artillerists. The ditch 
contained five feet water, and ins front from having been 
flooded by opening the levees and frequent rains, was 
rendered slippery and muddy. Eight distinct batteries 
were judiciously disposed, mounting in all twelve guns 
of different calibers. On the opposite side of the river, 
there was a strong battery of fifteen guns, and the en- 
trenchments were occupied by general Morgan, with the 
Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Ken- 
tucky troops. To guard against an attack from any 
other quarter, colonel Reubin Kemper, with a few men, 
encountering ifftinite difliculties,had explored every pass 
and bayou, and on this subject had placed at ease the 
ijind of the commander in chief. 

On the memorable mornin* of the eighth of January, 
general Packcnhum, having detached colonel Thornton 
with a considerable force, to attack the works on the right 
bank of the river, moved with his whole force, exceeding 



356 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 

twelve thousand men, in two divisions, under majoi 
generals Gibbs and Kean, and a reserve under general 
Lambert. The first of these officers was. to make the 
principal attack; the two columns were supplied vvitli 
scaling ladders, and fascines. Thus prepared, the Ame- 
ricans patiently waited the attack, which would decide 
the fate of New-Orleans, and perhaps of L«)uirfiana. The 
British deliberately advanced in solid columns, over an 
even plain, in front of the Asnerican entrenchments, the 
men carrying besides their muskets, fascines, and some 
of theai ladders. A di^ad silence prevailed, until t!i\ey 
approached within reach of the batteries, wliich commenc- 
ed an incessant, and destiiictive cannonade: they, not- 
withstanding, continued to advance in tolerable order, 
closing up their ranks, as fast as they were opened by the 
fire of the Americans. When they came within reach, 
however, of the musquetry and rifles, they joined with 
the artillery, and produced suchdreadful havock, that they 
were instantly thrown into confusion. Never was there 
so tremendous a fire, as that kept up from the Ameri-^^u 
lines ; it was a continued stream ; those behind loading 
for the men in front, enabled them to fire with scarcely 
an intermission. The British columns were literally- 
swept away ; hundreds fell at every discharge. The Bri- 
tish officers were now making an effort to rally their men, 
and in this attempt their commander, a gallant officer, 
general Fackenham, was killed. The two generals 
Gibbs and Kean, succeeded in pushing forward their co- 
lumns a second time; but the second approach was 
more fatal than first; the continued roiling tire of the 
Americans, resembled peels of thunder ; it was such as no 
troops could withstand; the advancing columns broke, J 
and no eifort to rally them could avail : a few platoons ' 
only, advanced to the ed^e of the ditch, *to meet a more 
certain destruction. An unavailing attempt was made 
to bring them up a third time by their officers, whose gal- 
lantry on this occasion, deserved a better fate, in a better 
cause. Generals Gibbs and Kean were carried away, se- 
verely wounded ; the former mortally. The plain be- 
tween the front of the British, and the American lines, 



HISTORY OF THE WAU. X!^57 

was strewed with dead ; so dreadful a carnage, consider- 
ing the length of time, and the numbers engaj^ed, was 
perhaps never witnessed. Two thousand, at the lowest 
estimate, pressed the earth, besides a number of the 
wounded who were not able to escape. The loss of the 
Americans did not exceed seven killed, and six wounded. 
General Lambert was the only general officer luff upon 
the field ; being unable to check the flight of the British 
columns, he retired to his encampment. 

In the mean time, the detachment under colonel 
Thornton succeeded in landing on the ri^lit bank, artd 
immediately attacked the entrenchments of general Mor- 
gan. The American right, believing itself outflanked, 
abandoned its position, while the left maintained its 
ground for some time; but finding itself deserted by 
those on the right, and being outnumbered by the enemy, 
they spiked their guns and retired. Colonel TImrnton 
was severely wounded, and the command devolved on 
colonel Gobbins, who seeing the fate of the assault on 
the left bank, and receiving orders from general Lambert, 
re-crossed the river. 

On the return of general Lambert to his eamp, it was 
resolved, in consultation with admiral Cochrane, to re- 
tire to their shipping. This was efliected with great se- 
cresy ; and during the night of the eighteenth, tlieir camp 
was entirely evacuated. From the nature of the coun- 
try, it was found impossible to pursue them ; they left 
eight of their wounded, and fourteen pieces of artillery. 
Their loss in this fatal expedition was immense ; besides 
their generals, and a number of valuable officers, their 
force was diminished by at loast five thousand men. It 
was in vain, as in other instances, to conceal the truth of 
this afliiir, and the sensations which it produced in Great 
Britain, are not easily described ; the conduct of the nu- 
nistry was regarded as shamefully dishonourable, in thus 
stretching forth one hand to receive the olive, which was 
tendered by America, and at the same time secretly 
wielding a dagger wifili the other. 

Commodore Patterson despatched five boat?, under 
Mr: Shields, purser on the New Oileans station, in or- 



358^ HISTORY OF THE WARv 

der to annoy the retreat of the British. This active and 
spirited officer succeeded in capturing several of theii' 
boats, and in taking a number of prisoners. The glorious 
defence of New Orleans produce.! the most lively joy 
throughout the United States, n-,ino;led, however, v^ith 
pity, for a brave enemy, who had encountered so disas- 
trous a defeat. The British fleet had, at the same time^ 
ascended the Mississippi, for the purpose of bombarding 
Fort 8t. Philip, which v>'as commanded by major Over- 
ton ; but without being able to make any impression. 

There is but little doubt that the object of Great Bri- 
tain, was to possess iierself of Louisiana, and obtaining a 
session from Spain, draw a cordon round the United 
States, and by that means strangle this young Hercu- 
les, as it were, in the cradle. It is well known tliat on 
board tiie fleet, they had brought all the officers necessary 
iv>r the establishment of a civil government, even a col- 
lector of the port ! An American must tremble for his 
country, when he looks back at the danger we have es- 
caped. That the British intended to deliver the city of 
New Orleans to be sacked by their soldiery, is very 
doubtful, and from the high character of Sir Edward 
Fackenham, it is highly improbable that he would have 
given, as the watchword of the occasion, heauty and boo- 
t:j ; this was more probably spoken by some of the infe- 
riour oScers, with a view of producing an excitement 
amoni': the soldiery. 

Wnile these bloody anairs transpired en the Mississip- 
pi, admiral Cockburn was pursuring a more lucrative, 
but less da!igeroi5s warfare, in the Carolinas and Georgia. 
He took possession of Cumberland island, and menacing 
Chariei^ton & Savannah, he sent out various detachments, 
several of which were bravely repulsed 5 but his cliief oc- 
cupation was plundering the inhabitants of their sta- 
ples, and household furniture. The letters of some of 
his officers, which were intercepted, display a species of 
vulgar cupidity, very mortifying to the. better class of 
their countrymen, who could not but feel ashamed of 
their conduct. The most usual topicks of these letters, 
were the amount and species of plunder which they pro- 



HISTORY OF THE WAR. 350 

cured ; desks, lookimsj glasses, bureaus, and cotton bules, 
extiltingly enumerated, as if they had been the ultimate 
glory and end of war. 

The momentous intelligence of the defeat of (he Bri- 
tish at New Orleans, had scarcely ceased to operate up- 
on the feelings of the people of the United States, when 
they received the welcome news of peace 'J'hese two 
events were joyfiilly celebrated, by illuminations 
throughout this land of fieedom and in<iependence. 

Thus terminated a glorious and eventful war of three 
years. It is related of the wise Franklin, that hearing 
some one speak of our first war with Britain, as the war 
of independence^ he reproved him : " Sir,*' said he, "you 
mean of the revolution ; the war of independence is yet 
to come." It IS now over; we have burst our bands at 
last, and every hope on the part of liritain to brini>; us 
back to the state of colonies, has tied for ever, She^ias 
been taughta lesson which she cannot soon f:)rget, thatit 
is much cheaper to do us justice, than to |)ractise her un- 
warranted oppressions. If she drove us into a war, l^y the 
capture during peace of a thousand of our merchantmen, 
and the enslaving seven thousand or our fellow citizens, 
she has found that during war, two thousand of iier own 
ships have been lost, \v^x publick vessels compelled to 
strike to those of the Americans, and her national debt 
increased by man}" millions. She has learned tlie pain- 
ful truth, that she has a superiour on tiie Oc^an. rtiic has 
been taught that her threats of burning our towns, and 
chastising our presumption, would only bring destruction 
upon her own head ; she has seen the market for her ma- 
nufactures greatly diminished in America — All this might 
have been saved by a timely repeal of her orders in coun- 
cil, by acceding to the friendly arrangement, so often 
proposed on our part, to provide against the abuse of 
the practice of impressment, by which the lieutenant 
or boatswain of a man of war, could decide, without evi- 
dence, and in a moment, upon the life and liberty of an 
American citizen. We have at last comp«dled this im- 
placable enemy of our political institution-;, to treat us 
xv'ith respect; and an American may own his country 



'^r60' HISTORY OF THE WAR. . 

with pride, in whatever portion of the glohe his fortune 
may lead him. It is hoped that Britain will at last, treat 
us as she does other nations, if not with the civiiitj, at 
least without superciliousness and scorn. 

Although a task by no means easy, let us forgive the 
ungenerous temper with which the last war has been con- 
ducted towards us, but let us not forget it ; let us keep it 
in view, until Britain, by her friendly deportment, mani- 
fests a wish to atone; let us not hastily charge those 
enormities upon the British nation ; but rather consider 
them the disgraceful acts of a few ruffian individuals, 
or at most attribute them to the mistaken policy of a 
corrupt ministry; let us believe that every virtuous 
Englishman condemns them. It is in vain for Britain 
to tell us that she is fighting the battles of the world, 
while we see her the tyrant of the seas; it is in vain 
to tell us that she is the bulwark of our religion, while 
slie stirs up the fury of the savages, to destroy the 
helpless and the innocent. We have no wish to be other- 
wise than on terms of friendship with England, while 
slie refrains from insulting our national independence. 
We have a common origin, a common language, institu- 
tions nearly similar, freed from gross corruptions and 
abuse, and to use the elegant language of Milton, we 
draw light from the same fountain. 

To us the war is pregnant with important lessons. 
We have acquired a knowledge of our weakness and of 
our strength. Our confederation will rise like a pyramid, 
its base eternal. Our best policy is peace, if honourable, 
but war sooner than the slightest insult. Fair and ho- 
nourable policy to all nations, preferring justice to profit. 
One lesson we have been taught, which was worth the 
sum we have paid for the war, that we are weak in 

THE PURSUIT OF CONqUEST, BUT ALL POW^ERFUL IN 
DEFENCE, 



FINIS. 



u. 
S. 

'<f 



c \^^ 



^<i.A^ * 










,^'\ ' 










\/ ^w^:-. V..-^* 







.^".. 



.. # * . Vfi». r<v « o * • 4 







7 ^♦^'V^ ° 






°^ 






-X/^^^Jl^^^^..^^'/^ 






:^*\a^ 



<> -'o,* 






















.-wr V >v uh,v^^ * '^. 4^ 



.r .♦> 



